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Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown is considering an October election

Ministers back October poll after expenses clean-up

Joe Murphy, Political Editor
22 May 2009


An October election is a growing prospect as Gordon Brown maps out his political fight-back, the Standard has learned.

Arguments for “going on the front foot” with an early autumn contest are gaining support among senior ministers, including some Cabinet members whose advice will be sought by the Prime Minister.

Mr Brown is said to be preparing a “national plan” showing how Britain will climb out of recession, to be unveiled after the expected rout in the local and European elections. There will also be a Cabinet reshuffle to remove ministers tainted by scandal and sweeping reforms of Parliamentary expenses.

One senior minister said: “The argument is that as we reform expenses this summer, we can stand with the moral authority of having cleaned up the system and return to political debate about major choices facing the country.

“There is an argument that we will do best by getting back on the front foot, generating some momentum and putting the Conservatives under real pressure to admit that their cuts would mean more job losses.

“I don't know what Gordon thinks, but it is being talked about among ministers.” Mr Brown will make no decisions until the last minute but Labour Party strategists have studied all the options for election dates, including October. It is widely assumed that the Prime Minister would delay the poll until May 2010, almost the latest possible date, in the hope that the economy will show a return to growth.

The aim of Mr Brown's national plan is to show Labour has not run out of ideas and to create a debate about the big economic choices.

Downing Street strategists were encouraged this week when Mr Brown achieved his best headlines since the expenses scandal by pledging to scrap the “gentleman's club” style of running Westminster.

Reshuffle speculation is increasing. Lord Mandelson last night denied reports that he was seeking to replace David Miliband in the Foreign Office, saying he wanted to keep an economic brief, but he Prime Minister is said to be considering him for the office held by the peer's grandfather Herbert Morrison. One suggestion was that the post could be given a more economic role, to champion British exports and trade influence.

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward is tipped for the Home Office, while Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears are expected to be demoted. Housing minister Margaret Beckett and Europe minister Caroline Flint are tipped for promotion to maintain the balance of women in senior posts.

A new poll revealed that more than half of the public want Mr Brown to call the election immediately. Some 54  per  cent wanted it called now, against 38  per  cent who favoured delay, the Populus survey for ITV News At Ten found.

Former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit today said October was the earliest possible date because of the need to weed out MPs found to have fiddled expenses. He said: “We do not want the same people coming back in, with more stories about how awful they have been, while they say they have been legitimised by an election. October onwards, that would give us time.” But his stance contradicted Tory leader David Cameron, who this week called for an immediate election.

Reader views (85)

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If Gordon's new map of the way forward is anything like the paperwork he takes to the Despatch Box, it will be composed of multi-coloured felt-tip scribblings, crossings-out and stick on notes and will just lead around in circles.

- Albert Hall, hove england, 26/05/2009 07:07
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Tebbit is talking sense, and giving valid reasons.

Cameron would do well to listen - and put the tory kennels in order - instead of yapping excitedly like an immature pup.

- John, Dorset, UK, 25/05/2009 21:17
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Isn't it funny how the Inland Revenue recently stated they will pursue taxpayers who use legal tax avoidance techniques and "bend the rules" whilst at the same time our MPs are claiming the most dodgiest of expenses are "within the rules".

With this government it's a case of "do as I say, not as I do".

I can't wait for the day when we have a govt. that serves the people and not the other way around.

- Simon, London, 25/05/2009 00:16
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Cromwell 1652 “the nation loathed their sitting” - What’s Changed?
In an entry relating to November, 1652, Whitelocke describes a conversation with Cromwell in which the latter referred to the “pride and ambition and self-seeking” of the members, “engrossing all places of honour and profit to themselves and their friends:; to their “design to perpetuate themselves and to continue the power in their own hands”; and to “their meddling in private matters between party and party”. All this was leading up to a state of things that was becoming intolerable. The army began to have a strange distaste against them”, and thus it had come about that “the nation loathed their sitting.”.

Why are we still at the same place? Because we never left it.

The relationships in the decision making processes in how we relate to each other in politics and business with ever decreasing accountability and more importantly contradictability have not changed since feudal times under whatever system. The relationships are still based on the extremely old notion of sovereignty. Rather than basing a society on who can gain the most from and/or overpower others is the winner creating a constitution, national and international, based on enabling the independence of others first would be a start.

- Mark Julian Smith, Australia, 24/05/2009 15:05
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Is it not strange that the minute a general election allegedly appears on the horizon, every man and their dog starts rattling the bars of their cage, spouting pure bile?

The Archbishop of Canterbury is now telling me WHO to vote for!

Rowan Williams - you continue counting your obscene expenses and get the hell out of my life.

What with thieving, lying, devious MP's and Lords milking the taxpayer's pocket for all they are worth, when election day arrives I shall vote FOR WHOEVER I CHOOSE.

If one voted for Micky Mouse or Donald Duck they could not cause such an absolute Balls-up as this Labour Government has done for the past 12 years.

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 24/05/2009 15:05
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As the UK has a volutary voting system, unlike ours where it is compulsory, wouldn't it be interesting if they call this election and nobody bothered to vote. That would teach the pigs in troughs a lesson they'd never forget. Personally, as I refuse to throw my denmocracy away by voting for a party politician and I only vote for any credible independent, I invariably mark my ballot paper with the words "None Of The Above".

- Len, Perth Australia, 24/05/2009 03:14
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If Brown does go for the autumn,
Who do we the people vote for?.
Do we vote for DUCKS,LIGHTBULBS, or CLEANERS,
can any one tell me, not all at once....ORDER ORDER?.

- John L., Scarborough North Yorkshire, U.K., 23/05/2009 22:47
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Patrick the pigs are not flying, they are all in the Parliament buildings with their snouts in the trough, oink,oink

- Agnes&Robert, vancouver canada, 23/05/2009 21:25
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Nearly two years into the worst financial crisis in 60 years and Brown and his bunch of incompetents are going to come up with a plan! What have they been doing apart from thieving from the public purse?

The sooner we get rid of this load of odious idiots the better.

- Peter, Bristol, UK, 23/05/2009 11:25
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In his much vaunted wooden way, Gordon has said repeatedly that he is only interested in doing the job (extremely poorly), than listening to public opinion (or rather outcry) that a general election is now urgently required. Just what form of words can be used to get the message through to Gordon and his inadequate team of miscreants.

- J R J, Glen Vine, 23/05/2009 09:21
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Patrick Powell, st breward, cornwall-"Reading this story, the thought did cross my mind whether a miracle could happen and Labour (whether New or not) would hold onto power. But then I thought that pigs really don't fly."

They do on Val Daniels' planet! LOL.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 23/05/2009 04:29
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The fact is that the Westminster fees office turned down and did not fund the moat or the duck house. They were not paid for by the taxpayer. Viggers and Hogg only enquired if they were admissable and they were told they weren't. Yet the moat and the duck house have been spun into THE stories of expenses abuse. Meanwhile real fraud, and systematic abuse of the system is being played down when it comes to allies of Brown and members of the cabinet.

- David Fitzgerald, coventry,england, 23/05/2009 03:53
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Sounds like this is going to be very expensive for Britain. I hate it when liberals try to prove they have ideas, they always cost the working people more than they have to give

- James Andrews, sacramento, California USA, 23/05/2009 03:29
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For all those people wagging their fingers, if your company offered you a second home to go with your job, replete with furniture and other incidental expenses, would you really say 'No, I couldn't possibly accept?'. The level of self-indulgent, holier-than-thou self-righteousness is pretty sickening to watch over this. I have never met one person who has ever been less than generous to themselves when claiming expenses- it's a normal human trait, and is nothing wrong so long as the rules aren't breached. With MPs, we are not talking of millions of pounds going missing into Swiss bank accounts- we are talking about claims, via receipts, that the authorities deemed were acceptable. If your company told you you could claim for pretty much anything, would you honestly hold back out of some sense of great personal morality? The most sickening to watch in all of this hoo-hah has been Cameron himself. The faux sincerity and ridiculous levels of anger is too much to take. I'd say I'm a natural Tory and would almost certainly have voted for them come next election. Now? No chance- and it's nothing to do with duck houses and manure, but Cameron's lack of perspective by tapping into this self-indulgent, overly-pious mood sweeping the country.

- Richard, London, 22/05/2009 23:36
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Oh joy - the leaks and spin continue, sounding out how an October elections comes across in the media first. He could just go ahead and call the thing!

- Liam, Preston, UK, 22/05/2009 22:50
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Any "clean-up" should first remove the nonsense of refering to each other as Honorable!

- Hatchet, Newcastle, Australia, 22/05/2009 22:44
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Parliament is not just the Labour Party. It consists of all three main parties and is paid as a full time job. How then do the MPs find the time to do other jobs and make more money from after dinner speeches.
T H Leeds

- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 22/05/2009 21:46
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Reading this story, the thought did cross my mind whether a miracle could happen and Labour (whether New or not) would hold onto power. But then I thought that pigs really don't fly.

- Patrick Powell, st breward, cornwall, 22/05/2009 17:55
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"Maps out his political fight-back"
Deckchairs and Titanic, spring to mind.

- David, Fleet UK, 22/05/2009 17:40
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How can you tell when Brown is lying?
Easy. His lips move.

- Lezli, London / ENGLAND, 22/05/2009 17:39
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Can anyone tell me if any MP or political party is going to talk about anything else apart from expenses from now until the summer recess starts!

Yes this is a serious issue, and I am, like everyone else annoyed - but I am more disgusted about the fact government and opposition seems to have ceased while this is dragged out in the media.

This all seems a bit like fiddling while Rome burns

- Jc, SE1, 22/05/2009 17:16
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#B.Gare

Actually, I return to the UK on a regular basis, I still have a home there. I make it my business to know what is going on as I have a vested interest. The events of the past few days have reminded the voters in the UK, (me included because I still have a vote), what the Tories are really like. They have confirmed they are still the nasty party as Theresa May herself acknowledged. Even Norman Tebbitt has expressed his dismay at the takeover of the Conservative party by those he describes as 'the Bullingdon Club bullies'. Don't count your chickens, it's not over 'til the fat lady sings.

- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 22/05/2009 17:15
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Labour's plan, as described in the Standard's article, is just trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. The people of Britain have had enough of Labour for so very many reasons and a bit of spin about troughing MPs will not change that. Brown won't go for a 2009 election because he knows he can't win one, but really it doesn't matter when he calls it because Labour will be trounced whenever that is.

- Matt, London, UK, 22/05/2009 17:13
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Brown can shuffle his pack as much as he likes but it will still be full of Jokers.

- Albert Hall, hove england, 22/05/2009 17:03
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Val - the first sensible thing you have ever written. Brown is unlikely to go to the country before May 2010 because he needs every second between now and then to try and re-establish his credibility.

But it won't happen. He, his cabinet and his party are yesterday's politicians.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 22/05/2009 16:50
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i await with bated breath. unfortunately one cannot possibly vote for any of the usual suspects, be they red, blue, or yellow.
so it'll have to be the jam tomorrow and a walk down the yellow brick road contingent.
how sad that those that sought to inspire and set an 'honorable' example turned out to be a worthless shower of wide boys and girls.

- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 22/05/2009 16:47
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Gordon`s got to go to the country soon. If he doesn`t, he will have to explain in the next budget where the cuts are going to fall and which taxes are going to rise to pay for all the borrowing. Its easy for him to attack the tories because they have been open and honest about what they will have to do to put things straight. But Brown hopes the gullible voters will be taken in by his, "we are the party of the people," dribble. This country will not change for the better until he and his MPs depart. Trouble with Gordon is he just does not get it bit like Val in Spain. Think she has been out of the country too long.

- B Gare, Norfok Gorleston, 22/05/2009 16:43
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These people are corrupt pure and simple and need to go. They may have been following the letter of this expenses rules (at least some of them), but they've definitely been abusing the spirit of it and I wouldn't trust them to "fix" the economy, they've been doing so badly by pissing our money into silly hare brained schemes that credit agencies are downgrading us! Get them out.

- Angry Mike, SW1, London, 22/05/2009 16:21
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at the next General Election I predict a massive swing to the Lib Dems..
only party to stand against the illegal wars
only party to predict and warn about the massive over-heating of the housing market
only party to come out of the expenses scandal with no significant damage
the strongest potential chancellor
a aprty with a genuine commitment tp public services

never voted for them in my life, but they are starting top look the obvious choice

- Martin_Clerkenwell, london, 22/05/2009 16:10
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The expenses scandal only goes back 4 years as all evidence prior to that has been destroyed. But Brown was in charge of the Nation's finances all the time that Blair was in office and must have had a strong inkling of what was going on with expenses. If not, he was a poor Chancellor! Was it a case of keeping quiet or losing his chance at the big job? Whatever, he is a dreadful PM and a poor judge of character. All the main parties must have cleared out the opportunists from their ranks before any election takes place and the police must not be distracted from prosecuting the fiddlers.

- Scotty, Cambridge UK, 22/05/2009 16:05
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Pa McRuin is still looking for his 'Moral Compass'. "We will be soon out of recession!" says he. This is better than Fred Karnos Army, listening to the witterings of Prize Numpty. He should know that Teflon B'Liar pinched his Moral Compass and sold it when he left office.

Dear Leader Pa Broone will be formulating his next 'Five Year Economic Plan' with his Politburo of Proto-Marxist Numpties. He will be laying out his visits to all the Tractor Factories again, and all the visits to the Peasants & Workers Collectives in the Midlands.

Well, if there is an Autumn Election, then I for one will cheer. Time to turf all these usless New Labour Muppets out of office, just like what happened in the late 1970s when Sunny Jim Callaghan and Pals got the bullet!!

- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK, 22/05/2009 16:01
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Bring it on Drown, you miserable Scottish loser, the sooner the better and you're toast.

- Johnny, Beijing, China, 22/05/2009 15:59
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#Kevin T
I love it, Kevin. You said it, the Tories were finished 12 years ago.

- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 22/05/2009 15:50
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And who is this senior minister? He/she says they don't know what Gordon thinks. Oh, so that must mean he doesn't know about it then. Do you really believe a Senior Minister would give the date of the election to a newspaper? Dream on. This is just kite-flying by the ES. There will be an election, but not before MAY 2010.

- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 22/05/2009 15:47
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Dorothy, Basel-"Several things I don't understand: Firstly, why do MPs have to buy a second home, why can't they rent a small flat somewhere? 2nd: Why do they have to buy so much furniture, if they are only spending a few nights each week in London?
To answer your first question, they don't. I spent many years in the RAF and a number of years in commercial aviation. I spent far more time away from home than any of these trough-snouters and had to make do with whatever was provided by my employer. As far as subsistence allowance went, it ranged from about £30 per day in the RAF (if service accommodation was available we got nothing) to about £50-75 per 24hrs in the commercial world. The hotels provided were invariably more than adequate, even for some of the prolonged detachments I had to undertake.
To your second question I would give the same answer. I'm not in any way convinced that all of the items bought for second homes actually eneded up in them.
I would also add that, ministers excepted, our MPs are constituency MPs first, how can a second home be anywhere other than in London? How can an MP have a second home in his/her constituency, if he/she is supposed to be a local representative?
If you watch BBC Parliament you will notice that the place is empty except for whipped votes and PMQs, so why do these people "need" to spend so much time in London, if indeed they actually do?

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 22/05/2009 15:18
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Gordon Clown is doooooomed. Only another illegal war or a super flu epidemic can save him now. WMD's - Weapons of Mass Distraction anyone?

Thrill as McClown bravely runs away on yet more foreign trips at our expense. When the going gets tough Greedon runs away.

Will no one rid us of this troublesome clown?

- Ethan, ComebackOllieCromwell - UK, 22/05/2009 15:17
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Let's see now, er we need to bring in drastic measures, now! Two days later, Parliament goes off on a week's holiday.

Our industrious legislators will resume on 1st June, and with the election of a new Speaker due three weeks later, we all know what will head the agenda.

New Speaker takes up the reins less than a month before the boys and girls are off again for the summer recess of about three months.

They normally resume after the conclusion of the party-conference season in early October. However, if an election were called for that month, one assumes there would be a brief resumption to conclude the formalities of Dissolution before a three-week election campaign.

On that basis we'll be lucky to see a properly functioning Parliament much before mid November. That's mearly six months without being able to seriously hold the executive to account at a time of an unprecedented economic recession, not to mention anything elese tht may occur in the world at large.

And Gordon reckons an immediate election would cause chaos!

- John, Leatherhead, UK, 22/05/2009 15:15
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g.brown was never voted in so he needs to leave the same way he crept in.

- G.Stocker, goodmayes essex, 22/05/2009 15:11
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Roll on October. The sooner Gordon & his crew are gone the quicker this country can recover financially, morally & politically. Gordon Brown has been a disaster

- Rupert, London, 22/05/2009 14:55
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'Brave man' Ms Lumley, or just plain foolish?

'Desperate times require desperate measures'.

Ain't that right, Whelan?

In ZaNuLabour lingo - it sure will be a great day to bury bad news.
Period!

- Dave, Cumbria, 22/05/2009 14:53
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I admire your faith that anyone outside the public sector with all its gold-plated non-jobs will actually have a chance to vote. Last time I requested a postal vote, knowing I would be on holiday. Two weeks before I left, a letter arrived confirming my eligibility for a postal vote. Great, thought I, until it finally arrived - two weeks after polling day!

- Anne, London, England, 22/05/2009 14:29
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Quit now you coward if you had an once of decency left. Go back to Scotland and let Britain sort out the mess you have left.

- Mike, London England, 22/05/2009 14:15
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If furniture and property has been acquired using taxpayer's money can somebody please explain to me why the assets purchased are not owned by the State?

- Peter, Tivat, Montenegro, 22/05/2009 14:12
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Whichever party has, as part of its platform, the British people getting a referendum on the E.U. Constitution, aka Lisbon Treaty, will win hands down! Even the presently-despised Labour could win if it had the referendum in its election manifesto and no other party did. (It's doubtful that the LibDems and europhile Nick Clegg would give such promise.) Of course, all of the parties had it in their manifesto last time round; this time they would have to honour the promise.

- Phil Jones, London UK, 22/05/2009 13:56
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Gordon has until June 3 2010. Gordon likes his lifestyle and cares nothing for this country. The election will be June 3 2010. Unless he tries to stay on and the military have to remove him.

- Thomas, London, 22/05/2009 13:50
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Going by what we hear during debate in the parliament and what we read in both news and electronic media, there is no indication that suggests that the scander over the claimed expenses is all one party ( ie labour's party members of parliament or is the fault of the prime minister. The problem cuts accross all parties.And if we all agree that that is the case, why then are we making it a ruling party's fault.
l think it is about time David Cameron stopped basking on the bandwagon and help the prime Minister to clean up the mess in West Minister

- Chris Udoh, grays Essex, 22/05/2009 13:48
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As if a Cabinet reshuffle will make any difference: it will make it worse if he promotes Margaret Becket after her arrogant stance on Question Time that she has done no wrong. The only post she's worthy of now is as a Salesperson of Caravans for M.P.s as second homes.

- Janet, London, UK, 22/05/2009 13:47
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Margaret Beckett is as corrupt as the others - she claimed second home allowance whilst she lived in a grace and favour appartment.

- R.F., Yorks, UK, 22/05/2009 13:33
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So we'll be rid of Labour before Christmas after all? At least that's a bit of good news.

- Matt, London UK, 22/05/2009 13:30
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Several things I don't understand: Firstly, why do MPs have to buy a second home, why can't they rent a small flat somewhere? 2nd: Why do they have to buy so much furniture, if they are only spending a few nights each week in London? And thirdly, what puzzles me the most of all is why these claims were agreed to? Whilst I was working for a large company, part of my job was to check peoples expenses, any suspect claims were out of the question. MP's should probably be paid more, but claims must be down to the minimum and thoroughly scrutinized.

- Dorothy Poms, Basel, Switzerland, 22/05/2009 12:58
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"Come here, Baldrick. I have a cunning plan."

Bring it on, Brown - or are you frit?

- Jingouk, London, 22/05/2009 12:51
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He will bottle it again. Crash Gordon should be fired and he never will gain the majority vote of Brits! I wonder if he will ever get more than 5% - five percent!!

- Steveo, London NW1, 22/05/2009 12:49
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I'll believe it when Labour start spending on their election campaign. This is just political manouvering. Gordon will test the idea through polling, try to get the Tories and Lib Dems to waste money on electioneering and then decide to hold on until the last moment. Although I am praying for a chance to unseat him and his cronies ASAP!!

- Mark, London, 22/05/2009 12:43
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Here we go again... promises... Crash Gordon has done that before... but he will always be just that: UN-ELECTED.

- Georgie, Islington, London, 22/05/2009 12:40
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Anyone watching Question Time last night could have seen the true measure of anger amongst the electorate and their demand for an election now, not at some time in the future.
Despite the fact that this programme is always biased towards the left, both with the make up of the panel and the carefully selected audience, it was obvious that most of those attending wanted to see the back of NuLiebour sooner rather than later.
Nothing is going to change until they are gone, they have no moral authority, no public confidence and they have lost control of the Commons. No government can properly function under these circumstances.
By clinging to power, Gormless McClown is only doing more damage to the country that he and his colleagues have spent the last 12 years trying to destroy. It is for that reason that I expect this shower to cling on until the last possible moment, but would be very happy to be proven wrong.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 22/05/2009 12:38
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It will be May next year. Gordon will want to be PM for as long as possible, and hope something, or someone will save him.....like an act of God

- Mrs Margaret Mottram Brown, Peterborough, England, 22/05/2009 12:38
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Hi
This a spoof from 10 Downing Street there will be no election, this comment is to take the heat off the Government.

- Neil Allen, London, 22/05/2009 12:34
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There is not one minister in the cabinet that is not totally delusional! There is not a hope in hell that this pathetic, thieving lot will return to power whether he calls an election now or leaves it till the very end. The only difference will be what is left of the labour party. Call an election now and the labour party may survive as a party. Leave it till the end and the party will not survive to ever fight again. I actually hope they leave it till the end as then we will NEVER have this type of fiasco again!
The sad people who vote Labour seem to forget very quickly that
NO LABOUR GOVERNMENT HAS EVER LEFT OFFICE WITH THE ECONOMY IN A BETTER STATE THAN WHEN THEY TOOK POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only when the new Government takes over will the full extent of the financial situation we are now in be realised!!
Brown the Clown is a master at hiding bad news either in a budget or on the books!

- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Thailand, 22/05/2009 12:27
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We have discredited PM,government and discredited cabinet ministers and MPs. Please go now Brown and give the voters their voice, make a decision, we all know you are not good at that, but just for once please go for it.

- Peter, edlesborough dunstable, 22/05/2009 12:23
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"Whichever party promises me a free duck island has my vote."

You're just jealous.

- Michael, London, 22/05/2009 12:22
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Ian, Reading. Don't be so naive.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 22/05/2009 12:13
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I sincerely hope there is an October election , but dont count on it , Gordon Brown is the ultimate Christmas Hating Turkey.
What concerns me most about any election is that we, the electorate focus on the real need of this country , a return to real democracy.
One commentator said last week , that the upheavals in parliament " Give us a real chance to win back our democracy".
There are some essential ingredients to democracy:
Transparency is democracy
Accountability is democracy
Responsibility is democracy
PCS (Plain Common Sense ) is democracy (PC is NOT!)
Fairness is democracy
Democracy is simple. We , the people understand democracy very well , but our "rulers" would have us believe different.
I am a natural conservative , but I must admit that this whole culture of "GREED" and "SELF" with which we are now faced , started with Maggie Thatcher , and grew exponentially over the following years until this point
where we , the people , really have , HAD ENOUGH.
STOP TRYING TO RULE US , GOVERNMENTS ARE ELECTED AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES , NOT OUR RULERS.
JUST GIVE US BACK OUR COUNTRY , AND GIVE US BACK OUR DEMOCRACY.

- Bryan Odell, Knokke , Belgium, 22/05/2009 12:12
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Brown





this so called Government





are over



Know more



every door they knock




remains shut





THE PEOPLE HAVE spoken





'the LAW is an ASS.'

- J Durnford, plymouth, 22/05/2009 12:12
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Trillions pounds debt, country busted, empty promises, words meaningless,'national plan' futile. Time's up, just go.

- K Lee, Cheshunt, UK, 22/05/2009 11:59
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'Moral authority' Pardon me, while I fall about laughing.

- Paul Freeman, London, England, 22/05/2009 11:56
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Gordon Brown maps out his political fight-back!!!!!

This Man just does not get it, never has and Never will

By the way could you too remember to payback

your £6000 plus

- J Durnford, plymouth, 22/05/2009 11:55
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Not another fightback Gordon. What we the people want is a fight to stop our economy going down the toilet. All you have done so far with all your fightbacks is to make things worse. Stop DITHERING and call the election. NO MORE FIGHTBACKS please.

- Albert Hall, hove england, 22/05/2009 11:54
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I'm looking forward to the results of the local elections and EU elections the week after next. General election, bring it on!

- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 22/05/2009 11:52
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Is this (October Election Speculation) now an annual event?

- Jim, London, 22/05/2009 11:49
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"a Cabinet reshuffle to remove ministers tainted by scandal"

So that will be all of them, then?

- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 22/05/2009 11:46
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dream on Gordon

- Maggie, London, England, 22/05/2009 11:42
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Good, that's about the right time-scale. All the parties (not just Labour!) need enough time for constituencies to scrutinize their MPs, to kick out the ones who were milking the system, and to select the best replacement candidates. Only once the stables are cleaned go to the country. Hopefully by then people will vote for the candidates on their merits, not throw their protest votes at fringe parties without considering the consequences should they win.

- Nigel, London, 22/05/2009 11:36
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Whichever party promises me a free duck island has my vote.

- Mike Newland, London, England, 22/05/2009 11:32
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"National Plan" ! Is that the same as his "Grand Bargain" that didn't happen - Please just resign you sad figure of a human being !

- Wayne, Herts, UK, 22/05/2009 11:20
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Isn’t that the point? Brown and his team are spending all of their time on their political "fightback" (Monty Python’s Black Knight, anyone?) and none on actually making the country better.

- St, London, 22/05/2009 11:20
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There is nothing Labour could say or do right now that would get it re-elected. Like the Tories 12 years ago, it is finished.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 22/05/2009 11:05
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What's all this about McMitty and co `getting on the front foot for an early autumn General Election'? If correct, it certainly conjures a mind's eye vision of the proverbial three-legged-race conjoined with a one-legged a***-kicking contest. But, whatever, bring it on, the nation needs a good laugh!

- Ted, London, 22/05/2009 10:49
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I am looking forward to this. We will finally get rid of this Labour shower.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 22/05/2009 10:43
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Lord Tebbit should shut up.He is yesterdays man and nobody cares for his opinion.A general election is wanted and needed without delay

- Alex Pomeroy, London, 22/05/2009 10:43
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The public want an election now. This useless prime minister and all the liberty taking ministers from all parties have to be thrown out.
We need a new parliament with a new prime minister with new honest standards in place now.
Mr Brown your time is up, pack your bags and leave the building.

- Mr S.Port, London, 22/05/2009 10:41
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A "national plan"?

Will that be in your mandate Broon? Because I am still waiting for a vote on the EU Constitution, as promised in your last mandate.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 22/05/2009 10:38
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On behalf of all Londoners, may I say we look forward to October to finally say goodbye and good riddance to Gordon Brown & Co.

- Mark Dun, London, 22/05/2009 10:31
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Brown will go on the front foot, kick himself with his back foot, claim he has saved the galaxy and that the universe needs him now, foul himself again, shake the clunking fist at the cruel destiny of being one who is never at fault...and be too ill to be at school on the critical day. The thieves around him want the looting to continue to the last possible moment.

- Timholden, budleigh, uk, 22/05/2009 10:22
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WHAT BEGGARS BELIEF IS THAT AFTER BEING IN POWER FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS, LABOUR IS STILL ASKING FOR MORE TIME TO PUT THINGS RIGHT.

TOO LATE FOR THAT GORMLESS BROWN.

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 22/05/2009 10:21
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Anybody believing that there is such a thing as an elite political class should stand down. Democracy is government for the people by the people.

The political class have created another feudal system based on their right to rule, that is inherently against the participation by the people.

- Ian, Reading, England, 22/05/2009 10:00
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