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Gordon Brown today said he would take only "a few days" of holiday this summer because of the need to steer Britain through the recession and swine flu crisis.
As the Commons began its unusually long 82-day recess, the Prime Minister denied that the Government had sent MPs on a long holiday.
"The idea that MPs are having an 82-day holiday is wrong," he said. "I'm having a few days' holiday and getting on with the job."
After this week, Mr Brown will go to Scotland and the Lake District. Four senior ministers will take turns watching No10: Lord Mandelson, Harriet Harman, Jack Straw and Alistair Darling.
Asked if he was shortening his holiday in case Lord Mandelson took over, Mr Brown laughed and said: "Not at all. There's a number of ministers taking responsibility."
He said recovery could not be "taken for granted" and the world economy remained fragile: "There is no room for complacency."
Reader views (13)
Oh! these characters of such little faith, It's all about Oil you know. As soon as it is finished then the World will not grow enough food. Earth's population through 1 World Government will revert back to sustainable 1 Billion. All because Mr Brown didn't have his holiday, shame on you all!!.
- William, Hay~Heath UK, 25/08/2009 09:48
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you need to take a break gordon boy wonder; afterall you have managed to rip apart most of the institutions on which the UK.
Name anything....anything from the Armed forces to the Banking system that you and your cohorts haven't managed to cause some level of damage too....to some terminal to others simply catastrophic....
- Kal, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 23/08/2009 12:21
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It's a REAL PITY MR BROWN, BY GETTING ON WITH THE JOB YOU, YES YOU!, ARE NOT AT THAT AIRFIELD TO WELCOME HOME OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS!.
- Davetherave, Lancashire, 28/07/2009 14:08
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It is good to hear Gordon Brown will not be away from the tiller too long, he has done a magnificent job keeping us all prosperous and happy
- Bob H, Streatham, 23/07/2009 09:12
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Gordon - please take a permanent holiday and DO NOT COME BACK.
- Billy Jones, London, 22/07/2009 23:01
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No, send Sugar to where Brown went last year, a nice middle class British place where 'the country needs me' Please, please don't send him here.
- Mark, Venice, Italy, 22/07/2009 22:52
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TAKE MUCH LONGER BUT DONT LEAVE ONE OF YOUR UNELECTED COLLEAGUES IN CHARGE LIKE ALAN SUGAR, YOU'LL COME BACK TO FIND HES FIRED THE WHOLE CABINET.
ON SECOND THOUGHTS DO LEAVE ALAN SUGAR IN CHARGE
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 22/07/2009 17:22
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Don't worry Gordy; there's a big holiday coming your way soon!
- Jules_London, london, 22/07/2009 16:43
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Yesterday he said he was going on holiday for a month, everyone got so excited that we'd be rid of the old git for a few weeks.
Now he's decided the country cannot possibly go downhill quickly enough, so what does he do, but shorten his holiday so that he'll have more time to do more damage!
- Mrs, London UK, 22/07/2009 16:42
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Hi
I think Brown should retire.
He has done nothing for our economy except spend.
If he was a good finance man why did he not put away some money during the 14 years of 'good time'.
During the good times he kept on saying look what I've done. As soon as the bad times came along he says it's the USA at fault.
If he had put away reserves in the good times he could now have reaped the benefit. Instead he is now spending our grandchildren and great grandchildrens inheritances.
During the 'good times' Brown had nothing to do with it, all western economies had those same 'good times'.
He was a puppet just like all politicians with no control over anything.
ArmyScout
- Armyscout, Nottingham, UK, 22/07/2009 16:15
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I think it's terrible Gordon will only have a few days. I'm sure I speak for most Britons when I say he should take a much longer break. Perhaps a world cruise even. The country will manage just fine, don't you worry.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 22/07/2009 16:15
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Gordon would be better giving the Country a total break rather than a brief respite and take early retirement.
- Alan Gibson, Amersham UK, 22/07/2009 16:12
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Brun do us all a favour and go.
- Nigel, Epsom, 22/07/2009 15:29
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