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- Cheat sheet: Brown's speech at-a-glance
- Sarah: 'My hero husband who puts his country first'
- Yob culture: Family hounded to death is ‘wake-up call'
- May 6: Labour plans for spring election campaign
- Behind the scenes: Labour conference diary
- TV debate: Gordon Brown 'accepts challenge'
- Sketch: Brown appears in the grip of an odd euphoria
- Pills: MPs may boycott Marr over interview with PM
Gordon Brown this afternoon launched an impassioned election fightback, calling himself “the guy who doesn't take no for an answer”.
In a fiery conference speech, he rallied his battered Labour troops by promising the fight of his life.
“Maybe it's because you think it's because I'm the guy who doesn't take no for an answer,” he declared in one of the most confident-sounding speeches of his life. “And you're right, I don't.” Introduced by wife Sarah as “my husband, my hero”, his spirited performance fired up the Brighton conference hall and earned a prolonged standing ovation. Implicitly acknowledging his unpopularity in the polls, Mr Brown said the election issue was a historic “choice between two directions”.
“The election to come will not be about my future — it's about your future. Your job. Your home. Your children's school. Your hospital. Your community. Your country.
“And so when our opponents talk of change, ask yourself: Is that change that will benefit my family, or only a privileged few?”
His fighting talk at Labour's last party conference before the general election was backed by a stream of policy announcements. His pledges for a fourth term included:
* Free social care for some elderly people in the greatest need under a National Care Service.
* Putting 16 and 17-year-olds who get pregnant into supervised homes instead of free council flats.
* Ruling out compulsory ID cards for the whole of the next Parliament.
* Free childcare of 10 hours a week for the poorest third of two-year-olds — at the expense of better off parents.
* A referendum within a year on changing the voting system to the “Alternative Vote” method, which is meant to ensure an MP has the support of a majority of local voters.
* New powers for voters to sack an MP found guilty of serious financial misconduct.
Mr Brown said the national minimum wage would rise every year for the next five years. “That is the change we have chosen,” said Mr Brown in a speech lasting 59 minutes. “Change that benefits not just the few who can pay but the mainstream majority.”
Turning the old Tory strategy of promising tax cuts on its head, Mr Brown said most voters should follow their self-interest by choosing Labour. His buzz words were “fight”, “choice” and “change”. He constantly pledged to stand up for “the decent hard-working majority” and the “mainstream majority”.
He claimed change would happen whoever won — and said the Conservatives would turn back the clock to the Eighties with spending cuts that would put breadwinners out of work and slash public services.
But he claimed David Cameron was trying to fool voters into thinking they could change prime minister without risking family-friendly policies.
“The Conservative Party want people to believe that the ballot paper has an option marked change without consequence — that's it's only a change of the team at the top,” he said. “They've done their best to conceal their policies and their instincts. But the financial crisis forced them to show their hand and they showed they had no hearts.”
Mr Brown vowed to increase spending on schools. Budgets for police and hospitals were also identified as clear priorities for the autumn spending round — pointing to a strategy designed to maximise pressure on Mr Cameron who has promised to ring-fence health and foreign aid money.
Mr Brown told his audience to “never stop believing” in their cause and the prospect of a historic fourth election victory. To their delight, he said in an electrifying finish: “And I say to you now —never stop believing in the good sense of the British people. Never stop believing we can move forward to a fairer, more responsible, more prosperous Britain. Never stop believing we can make a Britain equal to its best ideals. Never, never stop believing. And because the task is difficult the triumph will be even greater.
“Now is not the time to give in but to reach inside ourselves for the strength of our convictions. Because we are the Labour Party and our abiding duty is to stand. And fight. And win. And serve.” Many MPs said he had pulled off the best speech of his life — and the crowd responded with a standing ovation lasting well over seven minutes.
He candidly admitted that Labour had made mistakes but said they were now “united and determined to fight for the future”. Britain now faced its “biggest choice for a generation” between Labour and Conservatives who had “no hearts”. He was scathing about Mr Cameron and George Osborne for their views on the economic crisis. “Only one party thought it was best to do nothing,” he sneered. “The Conservative Party were faced with the economic call of the century and they called it wrong.” And he drew cheers by attacking Labour's favourite villains, the bankers of the City whose follies and recklessness had exposed decent families to misery.
Union leaders warmly welcomed the Prime Minister's speech saying he had drawn some “clear red lines” between Labour and the Conservatives. Tony Woodley joint leader of Unite, said: “These are not the values of the Tories. Ordinary working people remember very well the wrecked lives and torn communities left behind after years of Tory misrule. We must never go back to those days.”
Reader views (108)
Sorry for double posting; I didn't have room in the last one to finish airing my views!
Essentially the point I want to make is that it should be made possible for ALL parents to care for their own children rather than farming them out to the state, not just those who are rich enough to afford it or poor enough to be on enough benefit. This starts with employers paying more than pin money. Study after study shows that kids are better off with their families, whether or not we consider those families 'good enough' to look after them.
I also think that rather than whinging about paying for people 'sitting around all day' at home (where is the proof for this assumption anyway?) while they go out and slave their little socks off, we should start viewing each other as fellow human beings living and working TOGETHER to raise EVERYONE'S standard of living to an acceptable level. The notion of 'earning your keep' is ridiculous; nobody asked to be born into this mess of a country and you shouldn't have to earn the right to live a healthy and dignified life.
The attitude of 'those lazy bums over there and we decent hardworking folk over here' has been enmeshed in the British psyche for too long and it's changed nothing. How about accepting that 'having a job' and paying tax is not the One True Path to being a valuable, contributing member of society? The person who held the door for you the other day may well have been on unemployment benefit. Or does that just make you feel dirty?
- Vicki, Brighton, England
I am a stay at home mum and probably most of you here will think I am one of those 'feckless poor' who are bleeding the state dry. I am a stay at home mum to one child, another on the way. My husband works full-time and earns just over £12,000 a year. As a result we receive housing benefit, council tax benefit, working tax & child tax credit and, of course, child benefit. This brings our income up from around £800 a month after tax (i.e. £50 more than the rent we pay) to just under £2000 a month.
I have previously worked and had my child cared for in a nursery, and quite apart from the cost factor the experience changed a bright, happy and confident kid into a withdrawn, clingy, fearful one - and this was a nursery with a glowing Ofsted report. This sparked the decision to care for her myself and now she's back at home where she belongs she's back to her old feisty self and extremely advanced for her age (has started reading at 2 and a half). When she reaches 5 I intend to home educate her. Thanks to the benefits system I can do this and give her a decent quality of life - a healthy diet, access to a rich social & educational range of experiences, etc.
Of course, the ideal would be for my husband's employer to pay a living wage so benefits weren't an issue, but the world isn't ideal. Thanks to home educating we'll be saving the country money by not sending her to a state school while still paying tax towards schools, so it's swings and roundabouts really!
- Vicki, Brighton, England
too little too late from the Quislings who got us into this mess
- Neil, London
Didn't get to hear the speech today, but it must have been a corker judging by all the Tories on here hammering at their keyboards furiously. Let's see if Call Me Dave's going to unveil any policies next week...
- Ross, London
This was just ‘Political Pantomime’ Gordon nothing more, nothing less.
Your promises and pledges mean nothing, without proven substance. So where is the proven substance?
Education has failed. Unless you class (alleged) copy paste course work as a success?
Crime prevention has failed. Public are committing suicide in sheer desperation.
As Chancellor, Brown has had monies from such new sources as:
1 Revenue streams from the use of the Internet.
2 Revenue streams from the sale of PCs.
3 Revenue streams from the sale Ink Cartridges
4 Revenue streams from the sale IT software.
5 Revenue streams from the sale Mobile phones.
6 Revenue streams from the sale Licences for Mobile Phones.
7 Revenue streams from the sale Oil.
8 Revenue streams from the sale Gas.
Brown’s so-called Prudence was nothing more than ‘Rob Peter to Pay Paul’. In fact this man Brown has proved to be the worst Chancellor then PM this country has ever had.
Signed Carl Barron Chairman of agpcuk
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset
He even had the audacity to try and lay the blame for the banking crisis at the Conservatives door with a failure of the market theory. Err Gordon you didn't seem to mind to much when the dosh was rolling in. As I recall it was all down to your light touch regulation. Funny you change the regulation of the banking system and we have our first run on a bank in over a hundred years! Sorry mate the calamity is all of your own making!
- Keith, Bath
Delusional beyond belief
Our hero talks about 'our schools, our community, our country' - yes, i remember them things....things totally destroyed by Labour and their multicultural/debt obsession
- Kj, Pecknarm
To...Mr.Deluded of Downing Street,
My future, and my wifes,my two sons,my mothers,cousins,nephews,in fact all friends and relations futures have been severely affected by the cock ups of you and your Party.
In my mind you have no future and should go now and take your deluded party with you.
Yours in taxation.
Grumpy as Hell......I am not alone.
- Grumpy As Hell, Wimbledon
Gordon Brown certainly gives "NO" for an answer. Just ask the half a million pensioners living overseas in certain mainly Commonwealth countries who have their state pensions frozen. Another half a million have their state pensions uprated each year just as if they lived in the UK. They all paid the same National Insurance contributions.
Can we have fairness, equity and justice, Mr Brown?
"NO".
- Pierre, High Wycombe, UK
The bloody fool hasn't got a clue!
The underclass and feral explosion is caused by the breakdown in normal, slow paced and thought-out relationships which include commitment and a legal agreement to share everything and stick together.
A crap education system which has replaced knowledge, qualifications and parental aspirations for their children with liberal wishy washy child-minding masterminded by some ex-marxist minister.
The loss of work and working class municipal pride in 'Labour heartlands' because Brown preferred to make the Thatcher generation dole fodder or let them migrate to London where they could sink even further without education or jobs.
It's his Party's mess and, frankly,instead of lecturing us he should hang his head in shame and resign now.
- Richard Meredith, huntingdon
'Introduced by wife Sarah as “my husband, my hero..'
Presumably there was no elected member of the Labour Party who would volunteer for the job. Viewed as PR, it shouts; 'Only one person likes me'.
- Mdj E10, london uk
Most people know when they are wrong and learn from their mistakes. Brown seems to go from error to error without ever admitting he is wrong. I am sure he has a psycological problem and requires urgent medical help and I am not joking for one moment. The prime example was the Ghurkas. To allow the world into this country and refuse those that fought for this country shows he has an inabilty to see right from wrong. We, the public are paying dearly through this prime minister with a mental disorder
- Lemar, london England
Until Ireland votes YES in a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty their is NO TREATY to vote on as ALL countries have to vote YES.
Howevver, those who want a regferendum need to challenge William Hague who has intimated they WILL NOT hold a referendum if Ireland votes yes!!!
I notice GB has included a referendum on electoral refrm no doubt as a sweetner to the minor parties if their is a hung parliament!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Brown bribing his core voters, the feckless lazy army of people who get free housing and benefits, immigrants etc who happily vote labour.
Then when he's messed up the country, he will retire abroad like Tony Blair.
- Jean-Marc, London
This tosh concluded a big load of devisive, vindictive bile from a frustrated, despairing and dying 'State Party'.
This well-past-it's-sell-by-date speech has for too long been in Bottler's bottom drawer, is 12 years too late, and was delivered by a 'shot through' senile unelected PM-by-putsch, who's still ranting about spending when he owes billions in horrendously accrued debt!
And, after his 'carer', sentimental Sally's sickly prelude, it sounded like his farewell speech as Labour leader.
If he really has any sensativity , as we are constantly spun, then he must know in his heart that he won't be giving another leader's speech at Conference ever again!
And to cap it all, he's got the damned audacity to promise free social care, astonishingly, only after 12 years in unassailable government, but just in time for his retiring ZaNuLabour henchmen like the Kinnocks!
- Dave, Cumbria
I am getting tired of money being taken out of my very low student nurse wage for people who can not be bothered to work for money. I cant afford to live comfortably as it is and my childcare costs together with household bills keep rising, yet when i ask for help im told i earn too much. Now i learn that tax relief on childcare is going to be cut too. What is the point i ask you???
- Jane, manchester
We dont need politicians. Now we have all the papers 'Have your say' which shows more sense than these elected idiots.Just put every decision to vote by ordinary people not MP prats
- Lemar, london England
I am happy to pay higher inc0ome tax as long as this money go to the common benefit (public transport, schools, etc), but not to those who sit at home with two dirty unattended children and waiting for another one to get more money to have more nights out..
- Andy, Nottingham
They will still lose the election.
- Mike Burns, Livrpool Merseyside
Dear Electorate, please could we all consider not doing the obvious in the next election of voting for the 'only' opposition party that seems to exist in the eyes of the media. Both major political parties need to be sent a resounding message that we have had it with their ilk. Lets do something completely different - it is the only way we can truly know if another party can make a real difference to British politics. Until we use our votes more radically its plus ça change...
- B Williams, Friern Barnet, UK
Phew what a relief!
He's not going to resign. That means no one else in the Labour leadership is going to have to take on the job of leading them to defeat. They'll be offering prayers up tonight.
There's a bright side to everything!
- Mike Newland, London, England
I have to say, this speech has swayed me. For once, a politician's speech has been full of true substance, and I agree with the measures Gordon is promising. I for one would definitely prefer a Britain under Gordon Brown as opposed to Cameron.
- Declan, London, England
Keith Price must be feeling ill.
- John Bell, Nottm, UK
A truly ghastly little man. Can't wait to see him humiliated at the general election.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire
I am looking forward to my future will OUT Gordon Brown and the Labour party.
- Max, London
Just like his old budgets...it sounds good but falls apart as soon as you read the detail.
After the expenses scandal, I liked the recall of MPs idea, but look at what he said and it only applies to MPs who were found to have broken the rules. Hardly any MPs did break the expenses rules...so no matter how many moats were claimed for, you couldn't recall your MP.
Sounds good, in practice its pointless.
- Martyn, UK
Simple really his track record for last 12 years or so speak for themselves. Needless to say based on this record only his family or anyone mad enougth (House of Frauds excluded) would vote for him or Labour
- Mike, London England and once GREAT Britain
The election to come is about our future, our children and our jobs. What about OUR BIG DEBTS to be paid for by us for a VERY LONG TIME. McBroon says he might go into teaching.
I hope my house is no where near that school.
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19
Go home Gordon, you're not wanted!
- Simon, London
James in City of London - your comments are not tough and unacceptable - just plain common sense.
Well said.
- Sorrel, London, England
I expected Gordon Brown to offer too little, too late, but I was wrong.
He offered far too much, far too late.
- John J, Edinburgh, Scotland
When Brown retires (is thrown out of office), he has a ready made career in Double Glazing. He is utterly transparent.
- Tango Mike, Kensington, London
I'm middle class, have no children, taxed to the hilt, have never been given anything in my 34 years of working, now he expects me to pay more.
I will not be voting labour.
- C Cusano, Bedford
I shall be thinking of the poor woman who took her own life and that of her disabled daughter when I vote.
Law and order, the growth of feral children, the priorities of the Police, the victims of crime and not the perpetrators 'rights'.
I'll be thinking if I want a feral kid banged up and off the estate in a prison... or if I want them 'understood' by MPs a million miles away from our crime ridden estates and asked if he minded wearing a bracelet round his ankle.
Gordon you're right, it's all about our future... not yours.
- Paul, Bromley
Anything on the effects of too many immigrants on unprepared communities, Mr Brown? Thought not. After all, that only concerns ordinary folk, not the elite,like you and your cronies.
- Brian Taylor, Oxford UK
Thanks for the future Mr. Brown. Every man woman and child is looking at their future of £25000 overdraft thanks to you. Great ainit. They have to work it off in the sweat shops surrounded by CCTVs, every man woman and child electronically ID, with biometrics and barcodes. If they so much eat the non state approved meal, you can lock them up. Single mothers? They should be seggregated in a seperate compound.
Thats some future to look forward to, even in 1939.
- Properganda, paris
Gordon Brown talks about the City and the banks as though there are in a different country under a different government. That is how deluded the man is!
- Properganda, paris
My parents took me out of the UK in the 60s when Labour were in power due to their policy of tax,tax,tax and more tax to pay for all their mess ups.They have learnt nothing.Tax credits cost more than doing the right thing,reduce the tax rate.Increase minimum wage they say,great another few pennys per hour is what they mean,stop paying slave labour wages and British dole people will came back to work.And give us back the millions stolen in the expense scandal which we will not forget about.Stop your open door policy on immigration.Give us a vote on the Lisbon treaty,this is what we want,not cheap talk,cheap politics,cheap rubbish.
- Dave, london
No council housing for any single mum under 20 years ,not 16 or 17..and no housing for immigrants..they will stop getting pregnant for the wrong reasons and immigrants will be deterred!!
- Jean, London England
A formulaic and predictable speech written for him full of 'stuff' he is giving away (with your money). Just what kind of idiot falls for this? THEY are to blame; THEY must be obliterated at the ballot box.
- Jules_London, london
Like Dr Faustus, Brown would sell his soul to cling on to power, come to think of it, I think Mephastophilis has already made his appearance.
- Frank, Dorchester Dorset
When are we going to start hearing about the Brown bounce and sex appeal again?
- Albert Swift, Aberdeen, Scotland
Bit like on his budget speeches. Rushed through hoping people will only remember the good bits not the detail i.e. how the hell are we going to pay for all his "new" ideas. He has really gifted the tories with the content of his speech. Take two ideas that will not get off the drawing board. The first is the unmarried mothers home and secondly the power for councils to revoke 24 drinking licences. Both are never going to happen. Councils dont have the cash to build and staff such homes. Councils already have the power to revoke drinking licences but dont do so because they cannot afford costly court battles. What I and the country want to know how on earth is a Labour government going to pay for our mountain of debt? Answers there came none. A load of reheated announcements and ill thought out aspirations - typical Gordon.
- B Gare, Norfolk Gorleston
Do you think he'll take "shove of mate and don't darken our door every again" for an answer instead ?
Because that's how many of us are going to vote.
- Man In A Shed, Woking
I've decided to say something good about Brown after reading all the slagging off he is getting.
Still thinking......
Nothing has come to mind yet.......
Eeeeeeerm!!!
Sorry Gordon there's just nothing.....
All I can think of is that you must be the most useless PM this country has ever witnessed. Where's "Prudence" and the end of "Boom and Bust"?
- R King, UK
That'll be because you do not have a future Broon the bringer of gloom.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
This is about our future not his eh?
Don't vote for him then.Simple as that.
- Steve, London
And Roz you are right: there is a working class and there are those that live off of us working.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
You can't undo 12 years of inactivity, tax rises and mismanagement with one speech. Far too little and far too late.
Taxi for Mr Brown, please.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
BBC2 programmes following Gordon Brown's speech were 'Flog It' and 'Pointless'. Quite appropriate really and need no further comment.
- Frank, Bournemouth, England
Thay've had 12 years, and now all of a sudden we get a 'policy blitz' ... and that's because they know they won't be around to carry it through!
- Paul, London
Where is the Labour Party's promise to stop interfering in every aspect of people's lives?
The recent story of two policewomen being told it's illegal to look after each other's children is just one example of Labour's overbearing officiousness. It's the last straw to see Labour legislating against the kind of ordinary help that friends want to offer each other.
I can't wait to see them voted out.
- Sally Wainman, Ipswich Suffolk
Promises, promises. File under "Referendum".
- Tv, Hounslow, UK
Brown can promise the world for all I care. I'd rather buy a used car from Arthur Daley than vote for this bunch of crims.
- Peter, Harrow, UK
Reading this, if these are such good polices, why have they waited so long.
An aside - On my radio I heard a song that I have not head for years - back to the late 70's early 80's, all about a chap called Gordon - Jilted John, by Jilted John - seemed rather apt.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties
For once, I actually think Brown is losing the plot..quality, not quantity matey.
- Keith Price, Luton
Where's our Lisbon Treaty referendum?!?!?! That was a promise that this party made, and shows the value of any promises they make. Roll on May 2010 -- when it's good riddance to Brown and to New Labour!
- Phil Jones, London UK
How childish has this country become? Do you not realise that the bank mess was not just caused by people in suits, but by those who over borrowed i.e. us! Why anybody is still listening to Labour after 12yrs of broken promises I have no idea. After wasting the wealth of a generation what do they have to show for it? 3million unemployed, huge debt, long NHS waiting lists, terrible education and sprialling crime (real not recorded).
- Mark, London
“Whenever and wherever there is anti-social behaviour, we will be there to fight it. We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority.
Remind you of someone:'Tough on crime,tough on the causes of crime?'
What a load of old cobblers.
- Steve, London
Labour said there would be a referendum on the EU.
They lied.
However wondrous sounding their promises, how can they now expect to be believed?
- Ken Stevens, Reading England
JOE PUBLIC HAS STOPPED LISTENING TO ALL THIS SPOUTING BY MEALY-MOUTHED PARASITES AND HYPOCRITES WHO HAVE NO CREDIBILITY, NO INTEREST OR CONCERNS OF THE ELECTORATE AND WHO HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THEIR OVERBLOWN BACKSIDES IN THE HOUSE OF CONMEN FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS AND DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR JOE PUBLIC.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
If they stopped murdering British babies we would not be short of youth. So far we have killed through abortion 5 million British babies. It is nothing less than State sanctioned Murder.
- Jas, Camberley UK
Dom from London: you do know it takes two, don't you?! you sound like you blame all the country's ills on women.
- Jenny Baddeley, glos
I see he made 2 references to referendums. I am still waiting for the one promised on the European Union.
- Mark Myword, London
totally deluded....Hitlers last days in the bunker and the mentality spring to mind
- John, london
Elect Labour for another term and Mandelson will be our next Prime Minster. This has to be reason enough not to vote Labour!?
- Colin, London
Well the problem is , what with cuts in public services and the credit crunch crushing private industry the treasury are turning more tax payers into benefit claiments, we really need to evaluate who lives in this country and what benefits they are getting and do we need them here?
Messing around with child allowance is just a tiny drop in a huge ocean !
- Brian, Wiltshire
If I am paying tax and national insurance I don't see why I shouldn't be able to benefit from free or subsidised childcare too. Brown will lose what remains of his middle class support if he doesn't wise up. People don't like to be penalised for trying to gain qualifications, work hard and contribute to society, while others who are less motivated to do so are able to reap all the benefits.
- Lindsay, London
Problem. Brown has established himself as a liar. Where is the referendum? So anything he says now will not be believed.
- John Bell, Nottm, UK
We've got 2 young kids and live in London. The tax relief saves us nearly £2400 per year as both of us work. My wife pays tax at 40% but why should she bother, just pack in work and look after the kids. She would prefer it and we save nearly £2000 a month on childcare.
We would have a bit less money each month but a nicer life, the country loses a 40% taxpayer and I cannot imagine we're the only ones. Are there going to be any people who pay tax left in this rotting country?
- Craig, London
The welfare state is despised by those who control it. Considered highly suspicious by those who shell out for it and is considered the land of milk and honey by those who live on it.
The root of everything bad in this country and the reason why we have hoards of people risking all to access this expensive country.
Those who think it is about helping those less well off are living in a fantasy, it's about control pure and simple. It keeps more people down than it helps up.
Why work hard to educate yourself when sleeping around pays more and comes with a free house?
- Gary, Brentwood
£43,000 a year is not a large salary, it wouldn't pay for a stay at home mother for Mr & Mrs Average. If you can't afford kids and to work and pay for child care or to stay at home with them, then you shouldn't be having kids. There are far too many people in this country who think they can lay about for their whole lives letting the hard working tax payers pick up the tab. You should have to earn your keep in this country, not rip every penny out of it you can.
- Cat, Essex
I agree with Dcl from Harrow.
- Tanya, London
The UK needs to rethink it's class system: these so-called 'Middle Classes' are actually the working classes: they work their socks off pretty much just for the basics of life. Then there should be the middle classes who work their socks off for the basics of life, possibly getting a bit of an income off an investment/stocks/shares and able to invest properly in a good home, pension and a holiday in Tuscany. Then there's the Upper Class, who remain so mysterious that we forget they exist. Underneath all that is an under-class of people currently being labeled 'working class' even though many of them haven't been to work for several generations and have been spat out of a rubbish school with few qualifications to recommend them to an employer.
It only sounds OK to hammer the British Middle Classes because it appeals to a great deal of inverted snobbery: in reality, most of the people herded into that group are struggling to survive.
- Roz, France
One of the many reasons why I emigrated with my family! Surely he will now be looked on as the worst performing Prime Minister since World War II - hope the Uk has their General Election asap
- Melly, Cartagena, Colombia
Simple answer to a complex question. Restrict all child benefit to the first two children; if you want more or are too lazy to use contraception pay for them yourselves.
- Dcl, harrow
electoral suicide, the man has zero brains
- Half The Story Told, London
You know I can't help thinking of the famous quote from Woodstock, "Don't take the Brown acid".
- Tobin, Andover
At a firm I worked for in 2006/7 they gave a talk about burgeoning economies, of which China and India were the most significant.
The reason we were still a large economy in that analysis, going forward, was immigration, especially from Asia and the Balkans. On the one hand we have a growing population that ought to be controlled and on the other the need for people to fuel the pension payments of an ageing population. I am sure I don't know the answer but one point surely is that it is essential for sufficient numbers to be employed and not to have so many skivers? The drain on the econmoy with so many people out of work and with no intention ever to work is now a disgrace and a danger. If it is a matter of cash, fine, reduce benefits for those who clearly do not want to work, although I suppose all that will mean is they turn to crime and then get fed, clothes and accomodation courtesy of the state - it's a vicious circle. Decent, hard-working taxpayers never can win, least ways not with this government.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England
My Guide to having children...
1) Work hard
2) Obtain Qualifications
3) Get a job
4) Buy a house (or rent)
5) Prepare clothes, room, toys etc for future child
6) Get pregnant
7) Care for your child with your own money and time
Gordon's guide to having children...
1) Drop out of school
2) Waste your time
3) Get drunk and have unprotected sex
4) Let the state pay for everything
5) Repeat
- Tobin, Andover
All part of NuLabours plan to sweeten it`s core clientelle, single mums on benefits - they`ll be offering them free taxi rides to the polling stations come next election, see if they don`t!
It`s poverty of CARE for children that`s rife in this country, not poverty of handouts for GADGETS to buy their quiessence.
- Darius, London UK
Here we go again, why can't people use contraception?
As a worker I pay tax which subsidises the poor enough already, as if this isn't bad enough the so called "less well off" get subsidised housing, which I also support.
The workers are fed up of subsidising those less well off, bring back Thatcher is all I can say.
- P Staker, Londonistan.
It is not 'free' it is paid for by your taxes.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
Thankyou gordon for putting us in the brown stuff.
Your days are finnished at downing street.
- Martin, sheffield
I could see the point id it was linked to work. Free 10 hours childcare if you work 10 hours. Obviously this wouldn't appeal to those that make a career out of dodging work and milking the government for every freebie so it would end up costing us nothing anyway!
- Mr Opinion, london
I work full time and my husband runs his own business. People may pigeonhole us as "middle class", but we only have one child and we struggle to make ends meet, along with the majority of people in the UK. I certainly object to bailing out people on benefits who don't understand contraception.
- Claire, London, UK
Leave ordinary hard working people alone. Labour has always had the policy of tax the better off (ie people who work,and budget their money) and helping the POOR (ie layabouts who expect to be given everything on a plate) If people can't afford children don't have any until they can afford to.
- El Del, Valencia Spain
The stupidity of the man. The message out there is the more children you have the more benefits you can claim. we have a population explosion out of control, which is taking place amongst lower income mothers, (usually NOT families)What is this wretched man thinking? In sub sahara afric, 75% of the population is under 18. Uk next
- Mark Armstrong, london. uk
Everything that Brown does hits the 'middle class', and funnily enough, Richard,LONDON, not everyone that the government classes as middle class is rich. I'm still earning less than I was 15 years ago, but have raised three children with no help from the state despite ever rising direct and indirect taxes steadily reducing my net pay. This constant attack on middle earners is what's going to cost Labour the next several elections.
- Paul, London
Another nail in the coffin of the Labour party. Why not make it easy for everyone? Why not make a certain amount of childcare tax deductible? That way it isn't just a freebie for single parents with no intention of going to work.
- Mark, London
where is Keith Price? Is he sunning himself on the beaches of Brighton?
- Artffuldodger128, London
Regardless of the "rich are moral" / "poor are not", I just object - once aging - to being penalised to bail out the thick, the sick, the lame and the downright lazy. I work for everything I get and for what I provide for my family. We stopped at one child as the child care for JUST HIM was more than our mortgage and was paid on a rolling FOUR WEEK payment programme (so was paid more frequently than we paid the mortgage) and we went without a lot of other things some deem their "human rights" to have - Where's my 50in telly? Silly Socialists… “Pay” is for those who work, NOT the feckless underclass, breeding like bacteria and living high on the tax paying hog...
- Call Me Cynical, Aldershot, Hampshire
My wife and I have two children (but wanted more), go camping in England each year (but would like to go abroad) and have a shopping budget of £80 a week (but would love to go out and enjoy ourselves). We have no debts and only use what we need and what we can pay for. We are working hard so that one day we can have more. We are idiots obviously.
- John Entwistle, Hertford, England
Stop rewarding women from lying on their back with their legs in the air. If they cannot afford kids, don't reward them for having them. Too many women treat this as a career move.
- Dom, London
This gives people who have no idea of ever working to support their children even more encouragement to have them on the state, at the expense of people who work work work work in order to pay for and provide for their children. I am not in favour of giving any more of my taxes to such people. My money is too hard earned these days. Down with Gordon Brown. Down with Labour.
- Jilly, London
Regarding all the latest laws being considered for 'child-minders', babysitters, etc. is it not time to consider some basic requirements for 'parenthood', instead of encouraging these feckless people to breed like rabbits at the expense of everyone else?
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland
We should be reducing public expenditure not increasing it. This bloody government hasn't got a clue. Yesterday, two policewomen who shared child care were told they were breaking the law! Would this government prefer it if they packed their jobs in and lived on the dole, obviously they would. Child care is the parents responsibility, not the governments!
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
I don't have any kids so I pay a fortune in Council tax for schools, I then pay income tax at 40% to keep their mums at work and then I am told that when I become a pensioner these kids that I have subsidised won't be able to keep me in my old age.
Being a middle earner I am fed up paying for everything.
- Paul B, London
How about just letting friends and colleagues help out with each others' children? No, Gordon Brown banned that with his law registrating against anyone who spend more than 2 hours a week with someone else's children. This unfortunate vicious circle had been going on for 12 years. Labour passes one bad law, and when it goes all pear shape, they come up with another even worse one than before. This is not bad government. It is insanity!
- Properganda, paris
I live in a sure start area, and it is populated in the main by middle class mums. The people who the service was designed for never turn up.
This is another well intentioned policy, but giving people 10 hours free child care will hardly make any difference. Is this the best he can do?! He has run out of ideas. But what are the tories proposing to help the less well off?
- Darren, london
James, have you heard the news, being rich doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with good morals (bankers/politicians). Just as being poor/less well off doesn't mean you're on some kind of fast track to immorality or lacking in application or the desire for hard work. I'm sure you're a clever guy so and do realise that's it's so much more complicated an issue than you make out.
- Richard, LONDON
How long has this halfwit been in power? Its amazing how the imminent loss of power makes him suddenly realise that there is a real world outside parliament, occupied by real people, who are getting their boots on to give you and your bunch of parasites the biggest kicking you've all ever had. Bye bye Labour,
- Minority Working Person, London/England
But surely this will only encourage the poorer familes to bang out more kids.Great for the immigrants though.
Sure fire vote winner for the potless but then,that's what Labour is all about.
- Steve, London
I'm fed up with people having multiple kids they can't afford. Fair enough, poor people should be allowed at least one or two but it's the poor families that keep popping them out that wind me up. You hear their 'woe is me' tales all over the news and TV and I'm fed up with it. Stupid labour stop financially rewarding them after they've had one child - they can't keep paying people to have more than this and expect the 'middle class' to subsidise them when the 'middle class' can barely afford to have children themselves.
- Isabel, Woking
At the weekend Gordon Brown was stressing how he was on the side of the middle class etc etc. Now, two days later, he's saying that he's going to take benefits away from the middle class to give to the poor...
Why should anyone, rich, middle class or poor trust him when he changes like this?
- David, London
After all the years that labour has been in power. the only thing that wakes them up and makes them think about doing their jobs, is the very real fear that once they've been slammed at the election, they might have to stsrt actually WORKING for a living. What a bunch of scavenging toe rags,
- Minority Working Person, London/England
The middle classes hit in the pocket yet again to subsidise the feckless poor.
This problem can be resolved by people not having so many children. Unless parents can afford children they should not bring them into the world. I.e. you work hard to make the choices about what you want in life and only then have them. That will ensure children are brought up in homes that want them and can give them all that is needed, may even help fix broken Britain.
What happens if you have children that you cannot afford I hear you say - Well if you are in local authority accommodation you should suffer not be rewarded for your transgressions and moved into lower standard property, possibly the child could be made available for adoption into a better placed family and both transgressing parents even if divorced should be subject to a running fine during the duration of the child’s compulsory school age, more children, then greater penalties.
Just reward is necessary for hard work and good morals and there should be no reward for anybody who lives beyond their means.
Sound really tough and unacceptable I hear you say - well there are many tougher choices than this one to be made just around the corner. Unless we reel in the population and state subsidy explosion currently starting its rampage in England, there will be nobody left to bail out those who do note even want to try to bring this country back into prosperity.
- James, City of London
Kids have been running riot for the last 12 years - WHY THE SUDDEN INTEREST FROM PARASITE, MEALY-MOUTHED WOMBLES IN WESTMINSTER?
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
