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Gordon Brown
Losing grip: Gordon Brown

Brown retreats yet again over clamp on MPs’ expenses

Nicholas Cecil and Joe Murphy
30 Apr 2009


Gordon Brown staged another climbdown this afternoon as his expenses crackdown plunged into fiasco.

In a spectacular U-turn Harriet Harman dropped part of the Prime Minister's proposals from a series of votes, including that payments should be linked to attendance Westminster.

Her surprise retreat came in the opening moments of a debate on the reforms that Mr Brown announced a week ago in a much-mocked YouTube video.

The Prime Minister did not turn up to see his reforms being attacked and mocked by MPs. One MP commented loudly “car crash”. Ms Harman, who was not supported on the front bench by any Cabinet colleagues, accepted a cross-party amendment put forward by grandee Sir George Young, that decisions on the future of the second home allowance should be left to the nation's anti-sleaze watchdog chief, Sir Christopher Kelly.

However, she insisted that four other motions put down by the Government should go ahead. These pre-empted the Kelly review, including scrapping second homes for outer London MPs and making MPs declare outside earnings.

That inconsistency, designed to save Mr Brown's face by getting at least some of his ideas through, prompted an explosion of anger and derision.

Sir George, the chairman of the Standards and Privileges Committee, immediately denounced the fudge: “My committee could not have been clearer. We wanted the House to defer conclusions until the [Kelly] committee had concluded.”

In equally stinging interventions, Labour MP Tony Wright asked Ms Harman “which view would prevail” if the Kelly committee and the Commons came to different conclusions. And shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said: “We seem to be treading rapidly into the realms of complete and utter lunacy.”

Government whips were determined to push through some of the votes so Mr Brown could claim a partial victory.

One source said: “We can point to a substantial agenda of reform being got under way thanks to the Prime Minister.”

But Labour MPs were muttering that the Prime Minister had single-handedly created a disaster by trying to make headlines without consulting his backbenchers or the opposition. The crises engulfing Labour were even compared by one to the dying days of John Major's government. Former transport minister Tom Harris wrote on his blog: “Governments fall apart when discipline fails. Major's government collapsed when his MPs saw no reason to toe the party line.”

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson insisted Mr Brown still had the authority to govern.

Reader views (68)

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The only comparison between John Major and Brown is they were both the fall guys.

- Real, London, 06/05/2009 10:12
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At least John Major shut his mouth after speaking, was distracted by extra marital hanky panky and looked like a wierd John Denver.

- Mr Pastry, Brisbane, 06/05/2009 03:51
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Gordon get a grip.Sack Peter,Hazel,David and Harriet.Apologise to the nation for your part in taking us to war in Iraq.Then take a leaf From President Obama and go after the thieving bankers instead of asking them to get you out of the mess they created.

- Frank, West Yorkshire, England, 05/05/2009 16:03
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I reckon - as these posts show - that tghe PM has lost the public's faith. The public may or may not be right but at this stage in his political career, Gordon Brown should do what seems right to him and not bother either about being liked, or about his critics left, right and centre. His one concern should be to keep cool and ensure as far as possible that his economic policies come right in the end - regardless of the background noise.

- Cassie, London, 05/05/2009 11:41
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McCavity Brown won't go and when he does he will go away in the belief that he was right and the country was totally wrong to throw him out.
Even a fool could have seen what was happening to this country with the EU sneaking law after law to degrade our independence ready to be a mere 'State' in the EU. Europe says we cannot close our borders to ANYONE of any nationality coming in from another EU country and it never occurs to Brown to say they cannot have benefits for two years... the obvious way to put off migrants. He borrowed 170 billion then he will pay 120 billion to the EU as our member subscription. First we need to have a referendum to leave the EU that would make us better off in one stroke.

- Val, Telford, 03/05/2009 21:17
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I can't wait for this disgusting little coward of a man to be booted out of power in 12 month's time

- David, Fleet UK, 03/05/2009 10:47
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did the poor desperate man ever have a grip on things in
the first place?

- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 01/05/2009 17:07
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Brown is directed by a morality shown in McBride emails.
Inventing filthy lies about opponents, spreading them anonymously. Now we see what Brown was like all along. That is Brown's head of Strategy. Who wants a neighbour like that?

Major's vision was a peaceful Great Britain, but flaws for Edwina. Major left the UK in good financial shape, ready for 12 years of world markets growing with low inflation. He also set the UK free of IRA terror.

Brown has done the reverse. He has invented, lied and spun while destroying more UK wealth than Hitler. He has directed UK borders left open so now there are over 300 active terror plots, and he made the UK into the 'crucible of terror'. Every death from terror in the UK could likely be traced back to Brown's policy of open borders.

I would not want to waste any more time even writing about Brown, as revelations of McBride is made so much worse after hypocritical moralising Brown tries to make.
He would not know 'fair' if standing in it up to his knees.

- Browngo, billericay uk, 01/05/2009 16:37
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Val - Do you know how many Ministers there are? And how many grace and favour homes there are?

I bet you there are far more Ministers than there are homes.

- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle, 01/05/2009 14:56
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If you are not elected in the first place, then you have no mandate to govern. You cannot lose something you did not have.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 01/05/2009 14:04
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Greg from Islington you obviously have a well developed sense of humour.

- Alex C, London, 01/05/2009 14:01
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I too had to double check your headline 'Is brown losing it' as there should be no doubt that not only has he lost it but as others have quoted he never had it. As for Greg from Islingtons wanting Harman as next leader and admitting he is a party member (very brave to say so) never in her lifetime to I want to see her in any sort of office again, she has had her chance to make a difference and has 100% failed. May I introduce you to Keith from Luton and Val, Greg, you may however already know them?

- Mike, London England, 01/05/2009 13:33
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Give me a chance to vote for a new leader, i am a member and would like a say. I voted for Harman as deputy and i would vote for her as Leader. She would show the Tories that a woman can hold high office in the 21st century and give us an edge over them. No more messing about, let's just get on with it!

- Greg, Islington, 01/05/2009 12:21
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Major was a powerhouse when compared with fiasco Brown and his party of muppets (again no offence to muppet show)never thought I would see anyone less of a leader than JM.

- Mike, London England, 01/05/2009 10:49
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In respect to your Article " Is Brown loosing it" He's never had it.
His attitude is akin to Nelson, when he placed his hand over his good eye and remarked:- "I see no ships".

- Stop The World, Cheadle, Cheshire., 01/05/2009 07:43
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Yes - El Gordo is hopeless, but he is a party politician and rides the waves of economic cycles, regardless of his actions, as any politician does. The ridiculousness is that people at voting time genuinely believe party politicians have answers and that there must be great intellects in government - very silly but we fall for it every time.

- Mr Pastry, Brisbane, 30/04/2009 23:17
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How much longer, Crash Gordon?

- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 30/04/2009 23:04
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How can anyone be this bad?
One idiocy follows another.
Gordon should stop digging because he cannot get the UK out of This Hole

- Mikeh, Rugby, 30/04/2009 21:15
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It is very apperant that MP'S on all sides of the house of commons. Have been abusing the financial rules. Now they are debating on how much they can still screw out of the tax payer, without losing too many of their perks. As far as I and many thousands of tax payers are concerned they are still at it, trying to make claims. They argue how hard they work. How's that then when loads of them have second jobs. Either they are MP's or they are not. Any MP who has a second job should not be voted into parliament. Tell em to Sod off and do the other job if they want to work somewhere else. Dont become an MP.

I watched and listened to some them in the house of commons today. It was sickening to listen to some of them, you could feel they were feeling real sorry for themselves about losing some perks. I know some of them were sick to the stomach about loseing their second home allowances. The hide behind words some of them were using were laughable. They are still trying to get as much as they can from the tax payer.

- Ebin Donk, angus scotland, 30/04/2009 21:14
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Maria Maria what a pearl of an idea!!..well done you..Do fancy being Prime Minister by any chance?

- Keith, Dartmouth UK, 30/04/2009 18:30
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Question: In time we will all be taxed (by stealth no doubt) to pay for the bail-out of the banks. This will cost each and every one of us tousands of pounds. The goverment takes that money and buys shares in the banks, shares that one day should have a considerable value - greater than what they paid for them. When they sell these shares to return control to sharholders, will we get a payout?

This is a perfect financial trick. Call it tax when they take it from us, when really it is underwriting a loan to buy shares. We see no return and the government holds all the assets. Perhaps this should be tried in other areas. Increase taxes so that Gordon can have a bet on the horses? Perhaps he can take a few billion to the local spread betting service and buy tory seats. National debt solved!

- Jon, london,England, 30/04/2009 16:52
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The Economy,Iraq,Smeargate,Mp's Expenses U Tube video,'British Jobs for British Workers,Taxation,'It is not a time for novices',Chequer's lunch with Dolly Draper,'We saved the World','I will not use my family to help me' and many more...When will this unelected and hapless man realise the electorate is disgusted with him.

- Chris, London,England, 30/04/2009 16:02
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Would someone like to tell me why we are still suffering from MP's expenses?

If every constituency bought a house, the issue would be resolved and the dividend? At most, about twenty years down the road the house would belong to the constituency! Could we have a basis arithmatic teacher for MP's? when the house is paid off, the constituents get a small bill for maintenance.

- Maria, London, 30/04/2009 15:59
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I unable to make up my mind, slippery Tony or prudence Brown. What a legacy they will both leave to History.

- Shallotman, Basildon, 30/04/2009 15:58
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Ruby it sounds better than I will!!

- Tony Johnson, Hythe UK, 30/04/2009 15:27
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I'll keep the white flag flying here !

- Wills, Soton, 30/04/2009 15:21
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The only sane way to deal with the question of MPs' pay, expenses and allowances is to let Sir Christopher Kelly deliver his report in due course. Anything introduced by a desperate Brown administration is unlikely to carry conviction and is very likely to be partisan (as Brown always is). Marianne deserves a plaudit for the pithiest and most accurate observation - Major was a paragon compared to this shambles.

- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 30/04/2009 15:20
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Can anyone recall a more unsatisfactory & unsuitable PM? The sooner he is packed off to Kirkcaldy, the better!

- Brian Church, London, 30/04/2009 14:42
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NuLabour thinks we should spend our way out of the credit crunch/recession. The reason why this won't work is that our productivity isn't very high. Productivity is the ability to do things more cost effectively than others. With the majority of the 30% of the working population in government-paid non-productive jobs, manufacturing on its back and the pandemic of repeated mistakes to live with, our lack of competitiveness will mean that our recovery will be slower than everyone lses. So much for GB's insistance that we better placed than others. Go Gordon and NuLabour, go. You're the problem, not the solution.

- With Smoke Coming Out Of My Ears, London NW11, 30/04/2009 14:32
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Rebecca Henson - might Jacqui Smith be suitable? Or Harman, Beckett, Blears, Jowell or Cooper?

- R.F., Yorks, UK, 30/04/2009 14:30
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Mr Gordon McRuin 'Prudence' Nae Mair Bust Brown lost his grip on reality the day he started bothering Tony Blair for his turn to be Dear Leader.

Its ll been downhill since then. Possibly the worst Government in post war years. Definately the worst Labour government to date. Mr Brown will go down in UK polical History as possibly also the most incompetent Chancellor, and shortest serving PM ever. Will History look with a kindly eye on Mr Brown's time in office. Maybe, depends on you what your spin and sleaze-ometer tells you.

The whole Blair-Brown-Mandelson et al's experiment in 'New Labour' will probably go down as one of those unfortunate experiments in political social engineering that went badly wrong from day one. Nobody still really knows what they stand for - Neither Fish nor Fowl!

- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK, 30/04/2009 14:27
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Just curious if anyone else has noticed this week how frequently Gordon use the phrase 'we will do what ever is necessary' in just about every single speech he makes now from swine flu, to Gurhka rights to jobs Blah Blah Balh..roll on the election ..I think he is mired in delusional self belief..

- Ruby, winchester, hants, 30/04/2009 14:21
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The Houses of Parliament have let the British public down big time by allowing the un-elected Crash Gordon show continue for so long.

- Georgie, Islington, London, 30/04/2009 14:21
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Brown should go while he still has what little dignity he has, before he is forced out.

- Kuldip, London, UK, 30/04/2009 13:53
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Funny, haven't heard much from Keith Price from Luton or Val from Spain recently! I wonder why?

- Chris, Brighton, England, 30/04/2009 13:40
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Don't be so quick to rejoice in the demise of the worst Prime Minister in the history of Britain. He is an extremely vindictive and spiteful man, whose famed "moral compass" is pointing at scorched Earth.
He knows that he and his stinking Britain-hating party are finished, but he will cling to power until the last possible moment.
That time is over 12 months away and your can bet your bottom dollar that the treacherous swine of Soviet Labour will do as much damage as they can in that time.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 30/04/2009 13:37
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You can not lose what you dont have.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 30/04/2009 13:31
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Brown like a lot of his colleagues is a direct from school politician having never worked or gained life experiences. He comes from what his ilk believes is the ruling class of the political elite, as such everything he pontificates is to do with retaining power for his class, setting what he believes are traps for his opponents, and generally electioneering. At no time does Brown serve the country, govern the country and because of his background ever relate to the people.

When people recall that democracy is government by the people for the people, you have to ask what if any of the current crop of people that stand in elections could ever tick any of those boxes.

- Ian, Reading, England, 30/04/2009 13:31
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May I just point out that in the letter to Sir Christopher Kelly, Gordon Brown specifically states that Ministers should no longer be able to claim the ACA, but should automatically reside in Grace and Favour accommodation. No ifs or buts.

- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 30/04/2009 13:14
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Couldn't happen to a more deserving person.

- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 30/04/2009 13:08
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Brown has corrupted the UK economic structure, destroyed more wealth than WW2, ended our pension system once envied by the world, and saddled the UK with vast debts, even bigger liabilities with unfunded state workers pensions, and much lower capacity to make income. Not bad enough so he kept open borders to invite in thousands of terrorists who he is giving taxpayers money to buy their votes. In 1997 the IRA were beaten. Now we have over 300 ACTIVE terror plots. So the UK is now, due to Brown, the crucible of world terrorism. Brown is far, far worse than anyone has realised to date.

- Voter, Bethnal Green uk, 30/04/2009 13:02
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Let us all be grateful that Brown did NOT call an election in 2007 when he had the opportunity, for at that time the British public could well have given him a mandate for a further five years, in the same way that Major was given a chance to govern in his own right in 1992. Doesn't bear thinking about.

- Jan, tottenham. london, 30/04/2009 12:25
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Losing his grip? I don't think Brown ever had any grip. With his unpleasant nature and surrounded by unpleasant cronies, with tantrums and temper, he sulked and fought his way to the top, only to be treated with a mixture of total derision and disdain by the elctorate (and other world leaders). Talk about the prize turning to ashes before one's eyes. It is hardly surprising, however, for never have we had someone so utterly unsuited for the office of Prime Minister since, perhaps, the Tory Douglas-Home in the early 1960s. I suspect, however, that Brown will cling desperately to office until the final humiliating moment.

- Neil45, Gloucestershire, England., 30/04/2009 12:03
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Maybe he should start a war with some poor innocent country, as that's the usual tactic when a PM hits a low in the polls!politicians i despise them all.

- Kev, London-UK, 30/04/2009 12:00
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On the bright side, the economic crisis has killed off ID cards.They are as dead as Gordon Brown's credibility.The Tories and Lib Dems are rightly earning votes saving £20bn by scrapping them. What a pity Brown and New Labour cannot see this. Brown wastes our money by allowing the ID card scheme to limp along until the election, dribbling our taxes away and hemaraging votes at the same time.
Get a grip New Labour; ID cards are dead in the water. We don't want them and we couldn't afford them even if we did. Bury them today.

- Barry Tighe, Spawater UK, 30/04/2009 11:59
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There are obvious parallels with John Major's final year as PM, although he had to rely on support from the Ulster Unionists, whereas Brown cannot even rely on support from his own backbenchers.

The biggest difference though, is that Ken Clarke managed to hand over a stable and growing economy to Brown and latterly Darling, a situation that will not be repeated in 2010.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 30/04/2009 11:53
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It's far too easy just to blame Brown for this appalling, self serving bunch of unpleasant people responsible for our command and control government like Harmperson, Balls, Millibland and Straw Man. The whole nasty era is crumbling around them and the politically correct bullies in charge have finally been rumbled.

I blame the lazy, greedy Blair and his henchman Mandelson and hopeless Blairites like Clarke and Blears, Blunkett and Campbell (and the supine BBC) for the awful damage they have visited upon the people of Britain since 1997.

Brown isn't slippery enough to hide the truth and that's why the grotesque edifice is collapsing like sandcastles in a maelstrom.

Labour MPs are now turning on their masters, only because oblivion lies ahead. Strange how they hadn't noticed the shambles before now. Too busy lining their pockets perhaps? No need to worry about pensioners, failing schools, dodgy banks, dead Iraqis, a petty and dominant public sector, the criminal betrayal of our very best values as a country and a huge, unaffordable client state.

These people have ensured that there will not be another Labour government for several decades, after 2010.

- Ricky, Hackney, London, 30/04/2009 11:46
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A lot worse than Major!!!

Major's govt. weren't lying and twisting the truth like the scum in charge at the moment. Brown is getting his just desserts!

Be sure your sins will find you out MR BROWN!

- Margy, London, 30/04/2009 11:45
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Brown has lost his authority over his party. Having been anointed by Blair and having failed to call an election when he had a chance early in his term as PM, he also lacks any legitimacy in the eyes of the electorate. He is now dealing with his failure as Chancellor through political decisions rather than ones that will deal with the fundamental issues faced by the UK economy. The time has now come when he should face a vote of no confidence of MPs and the country should be allowed to vote for change.

- Simon, london, 30/04/2009 11:24
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Sign the petition : http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/please-go/

- Neil, London, 30/04/2009 11:21
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Ha! Ha! Lord Meddlesum reckons that Gormless Brown still has the necessary "authority" to "govern".

I have just finished speaking to a lady who was grooming a poodle in her "salon". I reckon that poodle possesses more credibility and commonsense than the entire UK Cabinet put together.

Gormless Brown nearly lost his marbles yesterday in the House of Conmen. He shuffled his papers together and was about to make a swift exit when Gorbals Mick, the alleged Speaker of the House of Conmen, reminded Gormless Brown that he had to make a further statement
to the House. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Gormless Brown was well and truly rattled!!

There cannot be any hope in the "democratic" UK for the likes of a paranoid control freak in 10 Downing Street.

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 30/04/2009 11:16
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Oh it's much MUCH worse than Major!

- Marianne, London/France, 30/04/2009 11:03
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The biggest worry for me is that despite what the public feel about MPs their salaries, pensions, expenses and whatever else is the fact that these MPs intend to continue legitimately 'stealing'. The truth is that they are only acting in self interest to undermine and thus weaken Brown to maintain the status quo. If you ask me, we need a clear out of the lot of them, they're all in it for what they can get out of it. We have Blair and New Labour to thank for this greed that has taken over Westminster and the City.... that is Blair's real legacy.

We are living in sorry times and things won't be improving in a hurry. Brown is absolutely hopeless but will the Tories make massive difference? I doubt it.

To me, the only politician talking any sense is Vince Cable, shame nobody can be bothered to take their heads out the the trough of plenty to listen to him.

These deluded MPs clearly think that that the tax paying public owe them something, well, they are wrong.

- Goggs, London, 30/04/2009 11:00
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'Brown losing grip'!!! He has already lost his grip and the plot a long time ago. The most incompetent, lying, deceitful prime minister and chancellor in history. If Labour had any sense (but they don't) they would kick him out before the electorate does

- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 30/04/2009 10:53
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He still hasnt got the message we need to pay our way not keep borrowing... Pay our country's debt to the Gurkha's, pay back the money that has been squandered on ineffective support for the banks and stop borrowing time in office!

- Jim, chelmsford UK, 30/04/2009 10:44
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Surely this all illustrates the weakness of a career politician. Brown has no experience of real life, in particular the commercial sector. With so little business nouse amongst MPs (zero on the Government benches!) and second job experience probably to be discouraged (because of envy) it all acts to reinforce the one-dimensional nature of most MPS - not a healthy position for the country to be in.

- Peter, Harpenden, UK, 30/04/2009 10:37
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If you didn't access the media you'd assume he's already gone. This do-nothing Government needs to spend more time with its families.

- Paul Freeman, London, England, 30/04/2009 10:32
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They have screwed our Heath service into the ground. They have eroded the natural environment and stamped on vital wildlife regulations with their harebrained policies. They have placed the Nation’s families at risk with their greatly hated, rat-promoting, 2-week waste collection fiasco. They are proving themselves to be incapable of logical and effective administration. We all know what the answer is to this unacceptable situation.

Pat Regan, author of Dirty Politics and Founder of Save Southport Greenbelt

- Pat Regan, southport, 30/04/2009 10:29
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A knife in the back from the greasy MacShane will be no surprise to Brown.
The duplicitously shifty Blairite MacShane was Tony's key emissary, as the grandly named Europe Minister, to smooth a path for his own deluded aim to be first EU President.

The proposed referendum of the EU 'Constitution/Treaty', by the Conservatives, will sink Blair's ultimate ambition by strangling this 'EU Presidency' at birth!

- Dave, cumbria, 30/04/2009 10:25
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It looks as though GB is trying to stamp his authority on the government with the allowances and Gurkurs fiasco's. I cannot imagine how any of his advisors would have told him to go down the road he has done on these issues. Part of being a leader is to take advise and weigh the options before deciding. At the moment it appears as if he is saying "I'm in charge and to prove it this is what we'll do". Both decisions horribly wrong and he is left looking weak.

- Chipbutty, bolton uk, 30/04/2009 10:07
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He has to go! He is like a Zombie leading a "Government of The Living Dead" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- William, London, 30/04/2009 10:06
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This poor excuse for a Prime Minister, this Gordon Brown never had a grip on the levers of power during both his tenure as Chancellor and now PM, but instead employed bullying, deceit and obfuscation to maintain the illusion that he had a grip on power.
History will record this man as both the worst Chancellor and now Prime Minister, the UK people have ever had to endure.

- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire, 30/04/2009 10:03
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Now is the time to say goodbye, goodbye

- Mike, London England, 30/04/2009 10:02
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Why are these people allowed to vote on their own pay? are you stupid, of course they're not going to vote what they see as a legitimate expenses. ANYTHING FUNDED BY THE TAXPAYER GOES BACK TOT HE TAXPAYER. PERIOD. who in their right mind, would vote themselves a paycut. typical bickering form an outdated bloated system.

- Jake, aberdeen, 30/04/2009 09:50
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he will eventually go, but he will go so blind to the problems has has caused and helped to create. he will likely go on a farwell tour, in the belief that he has been a world leader of great magnitude. if only he could be thrown out on the streets and left to hear, feel and sense the utter despisement of the people to this unelected worthless man.

- Joanna, london, 30/04/2009 09:49
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I think it is vital we get a new leader because otherwise we're walking into an abyss come next year and i have no intention of letting the Tories win that easily! I am firm believer that we need a woman of standing to lead us out of this mess!

- Rebecca Henson, Harringey, 30/04/2009 09:37
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I disagree. Even Major's political enemies thought that Major had personal integrity but was just a bit useless. Brown doesn't even have Major's personal integrity left.

Keith from Luton though will still defend Brown but he is singing a VERY lonely tune these days.

Ever noticed how every Government has the knack of eventually making it's predecessors look in retrospect utterly fantastic. Odd that - Blair/Brown though may be an exception.

- Ethan, UK, 30/04/2009 09:36
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Gordon you are the weakest link.....goodbye...

- Trisha, London, 30/04/2009 09:35
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