Gordon Brown's attempt to relaunch his government has flopped, according to a
poll for The Sunday Times, and his unpopularity is on a par with the
worst days of John Major.
With last week’s £2.7 billion tax cut and a raft of new measures in the draft
Queen’s speech Brown hoped to improve his standing but the survey of more
than 1,800 people by YouGov gives David Cameron’s Conservatives a 20-point
lead over Labour, up four points on last month. It suggests the Tories are
establishing commanding leads of the kind enjoyed by Tony Blair before
Labour’s 1997 landslide.
The Tories had 45% of the poll, up one on last month, with Labour on just 25%,
down three, and the Liberal Democrats on 18%, up one. If repeated at a
general election, this pattern would give Cameron more than 400 seats in the
House of Commons and a majority of about 150 over all other parties.
The poll is a blow for Brown before this week’s by-election in Crewe &
Nantwich. If the swing from Labour to the Tories shown in the poll were
repeated in the Cheshire constituency, the Conservatives would make their
first by-election gain from Labour for 30 years.
Even more troubling for the prime minister is the continued slump in his
personal poll ratings. Last month YouGov showed Brown had suffered the
sharpest drop in ratings of any modern prime minister — worse even than
Neville Chamberlain in 1940.
This month’s poll shows only 17% think he is doing well while 78% say he is
doing badly, a negative rating of 61 points. This is close to Major’s nadir
of -63 points in January 1995. Cameron, in contrast, is enjoying his best
positive rating, of 33 points.
By three to one, 69% to 21%, people say Brown is not up to the job of prime
minister, showing that even some Labour supporters have serious doubts about
his abilities. Only 8% think he can lead Labour to victory in the next
general election.
Brown is suffering the effects of a number of recent botched moves. By 47% to
23%, voters thought last week’s decision to head off the rebellion over the
abolition of the 10p tax band by raising personal allowances was a
reflection of the government’s weakness, not its strength.
More people said Brown’s actions made them less likely to vote Labour than
said they had renewed confidence in him.
Labour’s problems appear to be mainly down to the state of the economy. After
the Bank of England governor’s warning last week that the “nice decade” is
over, 60% of people think that house prices will fall over the next year and
a similar proportion think the economy will not grow or will head into
recession.
People say they are spending less on clothes, eating out and other
non-essentials and are checking supermarket prices more often. More than
nine in 10 say they are “ripped off” by energy companies.
The government is also getting the blame for the economy’s woes. Brown said
last week he was the man to steer the economy through the crisis but
two-thirds of people, 65%, blame him at least in part for the problems. The
long lead that Labour enjoyed on “competence” — whom voters most trust to
run the economy — has disappeared.
Cameron and George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, are now ahead by two to one
over Brown and Alistair Darling, the chancellor.
Government's lose elections, Oppositions don't 'win' them. At a time when British sovereignty is threatened with extinction by the EU, we need political and ethical giants not the pygmies we actually have on offer.
Keith Standring, Bexhill-on-Sea, UK
Suggest Eric in Southwick looks at the figures at the last election - 62% of the country did not vote Labour - hardly think this is a big win - the fact that the other votes were split between other parties shows that the majority did not want Labour. We should have proportional representation!!
Margaret, Bristol, UK
Labour=tax, spend and waste. When that doesn't work; Labour= tax ,spend , waste and borrow.
Where is that going to lead? We've been there before with Labour.
Thanks Gordon!
Ian, Bristol,
'inherited a good economy' Roger....really ? remind me, the interest rate was at what level when the government came to power? unemployment was how many ? What short memories people have!!
barry , leigh,
"Bad news for Gordon Brown," should actually read, "Gordon Brown is Bad News."
Neil, Gloucestershire, England
Absolutely Neil.
I would only add 'They're all Bad News' Eighty percent of legislation is shafted on us by EU diktat. Let's cut MP's wages and perks by eighty percent.
emmie, London, England
Has anyone wondered about the price-fixing scams perpetrated by supermarkets/banks/utilities?...Year in year out, they're investigated and heavily fined but still they carry on doing the same - Is any individual ever held responsible for this conspiracy or is it ONE BIG CONSPIRACY by the government
mikey, wakefield,
Eric- Where have you been?? The tories under major fixed the Economy, left Brown a legacy of budget surplus, and spending under control. Brown's reputation is based on following Tory spending plans for the first term (but stealthily increasing taxes..) Then he let rip... now £400 to tax your car?
Phil A, Headley, Hampshire
The real problem with these lemming type torys trying to convince us all is their track record....................Its now David this and David that...sounds like a Kipling poem very often...............Lets be totally honest.....their interest in social justice is zero
Eric, Southwick, England
Love them or hate them you would have to be very blinkerd to blame the goverment for todays high inflation .Or even the financial crises that is unfolding.But I am open to being educated,maybe some one could start with inflation
dave, glouceter,
I wouldn't blame Blair. Brown has been in charge of the economy (and hence all taxation and public spending decisions) for the last 10 years. He didn't even show Blair his budget until an hour or so before he delivered it! Either way, it's his fault. Bring on the tories. Time for a change.
Robert Laundon, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
John,
You hit the nail on its head. Rising prosperity meant a rise in taxes could be dealt with and labour still managed to run the country into a deficit when we could afford their taxation. Now we can't, and they are trying to tax us in the most ridiculous ways possible.
John, London, England
Was Gordy really so clever giving the BoE control of interest rates?
We are ending 11 years of credit-fuelled partying encouraged by the BoE's policies, both the government and the gullible amongst consumers.
A masterstroke or masochism?
Roger, West Yorks, England
Having inherited a good economy, Labour created the conditions to make us spend more assuming the feeling of wealth would do the trick. In turn, we shelled out more in taxes. Things have changed and now we're in trouble.
The fun's only just starting.
John, London,
It's a familiar story. Over spend and over tax. Private pensions have been destroyed, and businesses are beginning to leave. The real inflation figure including energy and housing must be huge.
People in big government have done well. MP's and others on final salary pensions.
Please go Brown. Now.
Colin Barr, Edinburgh,
Gordon Brown has brought this on himself. His record as a chancellor benefited from a decade where, frankly, the rest of the world was doing well too. Now things are rocky, he doesn't have a clue. And that nice inflation proofing gold... Oh yeah, he sold that for nada
Andrew, London,
This is an incompetent government, the facts speak for themselves. The whole country needs to start earning money through exporting. British industry and public services are badly run by too many tiers of managers who are not productive. Labour has too much greed for power.
Chris, Eastbourne, UK
How come so many posters here seem to be blindly supporting the worst government in living memory? I am not a rich man, even more so since the unforgivable raid on my pension, the abolition of the 10 p tax band, not yet properly compensated, the devaluation of the pound v the Euro etc ad nausem
Dave Kitchenham, Paphos, Cyprus
Same old labour same old problems, high inflation high taxation, as the saying goes "empty heads vote them in empty pockets vote them out".
Matt, Beverley,
Brown is no more unpopular than Blair but Blair always had constantly rising house prices on his side. The electorate would conveniently forget about the cost of living if this were still the case. Brown's only hope of an election victory in 2 years time is that the property market will have turned.
john, milton keynes,
If Brown and his cronies, as well as all other MP's, spent a little more time on the issues of government instead of too much time filling in what they can legally "steal" from the taxpayer in terms of expenses, the country just might be in a better state.
Meanwhile the pantomime rolls on and on ,,
Alan, London,
I'm not surprised that Labour are behind, people have at last realised that Labour has only one policy, and that's tax, tax and tax again.
Michael J Cawood, Wrexham, Wales, UK
I'm disgusted and angry at Labour and Gordon Brown.
I've just found out my modest second-hand 2.5 litre 5 year old car is now worthless due to the car tax changes, and my car tax will double to £400 per year! I am not rich and this is blatent unfairness for car buying decisions made 5 years ago.
danny, Leeds, UK
we don't owe the world bank 45 Billion pounds. Our national debt in over 1.3 trillion. Despite the goverment is saying it's only 400 billion, they don't account for a lot of things, e.g. public sector pensions liabilities, flagship Private Finance Initiative contracts etc.
peter, Newcastle,
Brown is the reason the economy is in a bad shape at the moment. Fiscal drag - not increasing tax thresholds in line with earnings. Higher indirect taxation, run away public spending. Fuel duty increases while families are already stretched financially. Tuition fees. Inheritance tax. Brown out.
Mike, Cheltenham,
Those of us in Scotland who had watched this "man" knew it would all end in tears , at least in Scotland we do have a better choice and it is not the Tories!
R MacLeod, Glasgow, Scotland
Am I the only one who remembers the last time the Tories were in power? Unemployment, pointless privatisations, the creation of a vast underclass, underfunded NHS .... Why would it be any different under Cameron? He hasn't got any policies and has never had a proper job. Great material for a PM. Not
Justin Evans, London,
1st conservatives gave labout excellent economy when labour took over in 97 unlike 79, when we had massive inflation massive strikes, highest borrowing, in western world, we were quite frankly a laughing stock to germany france and everyone else. like thatcher+co or not they made uk viable.
paul, potters bar, uk
It is time for brown to pack his bags..in an earlier comment i made to the times, i said the HMRC seemed to be looking down the back off the sofa for spare change, and any money making scheme it could think off,.with owing Billions it seems i was right..
Robert, Bristol,
25% of the electorate for Labour.
25% of the electorate are employed by the state.
Coincidence?
algy, oxted,
Brown liked to take credit for favourable global economic conditions as chancellor but now the economy is in turmoil he blames the global economy. The cannabis PR stunt and now this 10p tax bribe are all examples of government by spin and short termism. Two years and nanny Gordon's state is smashed
James, Brighton,
The desperatly bad situation in our country is, the media are controlling who should be Prime Minister and who should form a government. They twist the facts and slant news stories to provide the messege they want to put out to the public. Brown has inherited all of his problems from Blair!
Ray, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
bring back Tony !
Patrick, Reading, UK
Regards Mohammed of Londons comment-
Yes sir,and myself as the sort of person Nulabotomy appears to be against (white indigenous English) I could not bring myself to vote for them-even if offered the moon.
antony Graham, southport, England
Where are all those that voted ZaNuLab three times on the trot? Gordon Brown has sent 80 of his motley lot to Crewe to try and find them, however I guess most are too embarrassed to own up.
roger Davies, Aberdovey, United Kingdom
Politians are, of course, all the same; say one thing, do another. Whether DC is any more efficient than Brown remains to be seen. But I sincerely hope that Brown's tenure is at an end & somebody (anybody!) gets a shot at getting our country back on its feet & out of this tangled beaurocratic mess
David R, Lymington, UK
At the last election Labour won convincingly and had more votes over the whole of the UK than any party................people remember the days when insider dealing was looked upon as "clever" with Deputy chairman Archer pontificating to us etc etc..............Labour will triumph again next time
Eric, Southwick, England
The socialist experiment has been a complete disaster and has caused immense damage to the financial and social fabric of this country. I hope that NLab never get another go at the 'tax and waste' strategy they are so terminally addicted to.
Brian Roberts , Plymouth, UK
Yes, Ray Jones, I do remember. You don't think things aren't going the same way with Gordon and Alistair's policies?
Nick, Surrey, UK
The 17% who think he is still doing well must be on benefits.
At 61 and still working for the NHS because I can't afford to give up and paying more tax -
Why is it that those on benefits did not get a reduction? I'm worse off they are better off
Why am I paying for them
Margaret, Bristol, UK
Fightback? ...Wot Fightback?
Neil, Gloucestershire, England
What we need is consensus politics as they have in Switzerland. We will get this with a PR voting system, as no one will have a majority.
Ken, Beaulieu Sur Dordogne, France
If the Conservatives do get in what difference will it make? The New Labour Project was and still is Toryism with a different coloured rosette and brand name: privatisation of profit, socialisation of debt and servitude to the City of London.
Paul, Coventry,
What a bunch of lemmings!People have turned to Cameron, and they dont even know why. Also, how exactly is this country in a bad state? The only people who should have a problem with todays UK are the shunted, elitist so called upper-classes. The rest of you shouting for 'change'! are a brainless mob
eno, London,
What is the point of having low interest rates when council taxes have risen by 75%, fuel tax is 66% of the cost of litre, personel pension have been plundered by Labour, Social security budgets are at 500 billion pound when unemployment is so low. Crime stats say one thing and people feel another.
steve tea, manchester, cheshire
Eric in Southwick.
At the last election the Tories got more votes than Labour. Labour 'won' because the electoral system gives them an advantage. 'Tory voting' constituencies are larger - more votes needed to win; the constituency map (now reformed) favoured Labour; too many Scottish MPs.
Donna Walker, Effingham, England
Ray Jones:
The Conservatives were in charge then - and the Conservatives are in charge now. They never went away; in 19997, they simply put on a false grin, called Tony Blair, made a lot of promises they never intended to keep - and changed their name to New Labour. They have to go.
Robert, Hull, East Yorkshire
drasticly cut fuel duty which would halt inflation get the correct amdunt of tax off the greedy tax avoiding super rich bastards.get out of iraque and afghanistan and scrap trident.we can always build dirty bombs if we need em.its that easy.
MARK WATTS, hereford, herefordshire
The failure of the labour "fight back" comes as no surprise. Brown promised to listen: in almost the same breath he announced that despite rising opposition he was going ahead with unpopular policies such as 42 days detention, abolition of the 10% tax rate, and ID cards. No change there!
David, Harpenden, UK
"Brown Orders 80 ministers to Crewe" 80! What do they all do apart from meddle and interfere?
And why isn't the big man going?
Tom, Huddersfield, uk
Do you remember 15% interest rates, 3 million unemployed, massive cuts in public services, rail privatisation - who was in charge then - the tories. What have you got now - 1.6 million unemployed. The problem is I don't know what Dave and George's policies are - interesting times ahead!
ray jones, swansea, UK
Brown could always consider what Mitterand did in the mid-80's when it looked inevitable that the Socialists would lose the next general election. Bring in PR!, thus raising the bar yet again for the Tories. It has got so cynical I woudln't put it past him.
nigel murphy, oswestry,
DC is the man to lead UK PLC back to its feet
GB was given the best economic situation on a silver plater and now his years in office, the ichickens are coming home to roost.
DC and his team will lead UK PLC back to good times and good health.
If GB has confidence in him self call an election...
John, Wolverhampton, UK
If GB has any confidence in his party and his leadership then why not go for an election, see how much the UK UK people want you and the LP in Office.
he went in via the back door and he shall have to go out via the front. GB you days as PM are numbered.
THE LP ARE YESTERDAYS NEWS
John, Wolverhampton, UK
I suspect that the only way Mr Brown is likely to win the next election is if he joins Zanu-PF!
Stewart Wilkinson, Leicester, UK
David Blair or is it Tony Cameron ?
Ian Payne, WALSALL,
Spot on Ian, the Guy is a statist who takes money, creates a layer of beauoucracy and then is kind enough to give us our money back. Worse, the poorest in our Society are least capable of navigated the rigours of a state that imposes mad rules to return our money to us.
Chris, Dudley, UK
my cousin is a labour MP (i refuse to talk politics with him) and I am ashamed to say very close friends with Brown. I still won't ever vote labour ever again. taxing the living daylights out of this country with little in return to show for it is just something i cannot espouse.
John, London, England
I have to agree that being disappointed with Brown shouldn't be a reason to vote Tory, and i think it's time to look at the Lib Dems as a potential opposition party.
With a higher proportion than Labour of the vote in recent local elections i think this is now a realistic possibility.
nt, London,
D.case, loony left? what loony left.
There hasnt been a left or a right in mainstream politics (other than margaret thatcher) in this country since the 1950s.
You see Gorden Brown is a social democrate ,David Cameron is a social democrate,Heath, Wilson,Major etc all social democrates
dave , gloucester, gloucestershire
Stealth Taxes in the Red Book, that's what Gordon Brown will be remembered for. Was he too embarassed to openly declare these Stealth Taxes on Budget Day? Of course, he'd rather hoodwink the UK taxpayer secretly thru the red book.
Well, his days are numbered and he deserves all he gets!!
louis blanc, liverpool, UK
There's only one thing worse than Brown being the Prime Minister and that's having Cameron take his place. It's a shame we don't have a decent opposition in this country.
Being fed up with new Labour isn't a good reason to vote Tory.
Michael, Oxford, UK
Gordon Brown was a disaster as Chancellor and is an even bigger disaster as PM. His decisions on pensions and selling gold reserves cost the UK billions.
He continually announces policies & spending decisions, none of which are ever effectively implemented or achieve their objectives.
He must go.
Ian McDonald, Auckland, New Zealand
Labour's strategy is now to run the full 5 year term and hope that house prices will be on the rise again in 2 years time. I suspect Harriet Harman will be the next leader of the Labour party; Milliband is too ambitious to want to lead Labour in opposition.
john, milton keynes,
Why on earth should Gordon give a monkeys uncle what the views of the REJECTED tory party are or for its lemming type blinkered followers.........................DESPITE this concerted effort of deceit and distortion,Gordon will win the next General Election..................reality will kick in
Eric, Southwick, England
Well the bad news for Britian is I and many others have left the UK this year because of labour and finally the unelected Brown. Itsnot 10 p tax, its lack of democracy, tax, cctv, regulation, immigration, focus on london and not rural communities, that damn britishness thing, EU referendum etc etc
James, Auckland, New Zealand
I'm a former permanent Labour voter. The Party looked after me and I looked after them. They broke that agreement by shafting me over the 10p rate fiasco, which they still haven't fully compensated me for. If they can't give a damn about me then I don't give a damn about them - PERMANENTLY.
Ted, Cheshire,
If it was a pop idol contest, or a couple of football teams then rating personalities and hurling vacuous insults might be a way to run things. But democracy? Its about policies not PR.
Rod, Ross-shire, Scotland
Yeah, PaulD, that's the incredible thing isn't it?
Still 25% of us think he's the best...
If I was 8 years old and someone asked if he could look after my pocket money, I would've said no - but still 25% of grown ups think he the man to be entrusted with £617 billion. Democracy? hmm
John H Miller, bromley,
Gordon Brown is always certain he knows what's good for us; certain that he is smarter than us, better qualified to spend our money for us. Now at last he is in the spotlight , unable to hide behind Tony Blair; naked and exposed for all to see.
Where has all our money gone ? E.U Referendum !
Alan Heywood, Eastcombe, Nr Stroud, England. UK
I despise Labour - and I voted for them in '97!
But I worry that the Tories winning a landslide will be a bad thing to. When a Govt has that much power they, like Labour, tend to do what the hell they want.
Phill, The Wirral, England
I really think that Brown should rersign now, he really is hurting the Labour Party, party which I support.
I think a trip to the ohter Side of the House would heal the party.
So Please Gordon, call for an Election, Lose it and Resign... So as to let the Labour Party get better again...
Joaquim, Paris, France
Brown's chances were hampered from day one. Blair hung on so long that he handed over an unwinable situation. Most of Brown's problems have been caused and handed down to him by Blair, Iraq, immigration, crime, powerless courts, overcrowded prisons. Brown get's the backwash of Blairs policies!
RayB , Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Labour have realised that they have slim chance in 2010 elections, so they should be planning the next election. A good strategy for them is the "poisonous pill": make sure that by 2010 the country is in such a bad state that it will crash soon after another party wins the elections. Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling are the right people then.
Vik, Newcastle,
Brown ordering 80 ministers to Crewe this weekend, looks as if it will go down in history as the Charge of the Light Brigade into the Valley of the Death of Labour.
Chris Gillibrand, Brussels, Belgium
It's not just about tax, it's more cameras on roads for motorists (500 Miles planned for motorways alone) rather than real police for other offences. Its the ministers telling us we need taxes on bags and that we are not socially aware. It is using the tories as scapegoats after 10 years of chances.
Stephen G, Ruislip, UK
I can't believe how reactionary this country has been of late. Not since Diana forgot to put her seatbelt on and allowed herself to be driven at high speed by a drunk Frenchman have I seen such irrational emotion. Cameron (and his friends) are vacuous posh boys who won't do anything for Britain.
Phil, Nottingham, UK
Everybody was glad to see the back of Labour in 1979, things improved until some Conservative MP's got mixed up with that bloke from Harrods, then the sleaze train got moving. We had a reasonable 18 years until Blair appeared, now we're back to 1979 again. Everybody is glad to see the back of 'em
Phil de Buquet, Newport,
Brown is constantly in denial, thus alienating the electorate even more. The stress will get to him and he'll resign. Labour are finished as they have no credible personalities with the character and skills needed to keep the sinking ship afloat. They better reach for the lifeboats...
Paul, West Midlands,
The arrogance of the man is inestimable! In these difficult times, I am the best man to listen and LEAD! Says he!
Well, then man, listen and LEAD. To the EXIT!
Howard, Chester,
New Labour have ruined the British economy for the next decade so they could fund wasteful sending on low quality public services!
Costas, Cyprus,
Who are these 25% NuLab voters? I would expect closer to 2.5%.
PaulD, Essex,
When the Conservatives win it'll be back to the days of mass unemployment, probably as high this time as six million.
By the time the electorate get around to blaming the Government it'll be too late to do anythihg about it.
Michael Petek, Brighton, UK
Goodbye socialist wasters, hello conservative shysters.
No matter what government the public get rid of, the dictatorship of parliament is still in place.
Getting rid of parliament is where it's at.
And the police, newspapers, energy companies, estate agents etc. the list of our enemies is very long
Sean Hamerton, York.,
10 years in the making!
better schools? no
better healthcare? no
more soical mobility?no
what DOES labour stand for except spending our money.
seb, london,
Shoving this into the Electoral Calculus website without any tactical voting gives the following prediction:
CON: 422 (+214)
LAB: 176 (-180)
LIB: 32 (-34)
That's a 214 seat Tory majority, with Labour and the LibDems both losing around half their MPs. Edgy people in Westminster, I imagine.
Dave, Uxbridge,
What can Labour do next to cling to power? Act like the Conservatives. If its a choice between Labour and the Conservatives, the Conservatives have my vote, Why?
1) Labour raided personnel pensions
2) Labour took over a healthy economy, now we owe the world bank 45 Billion pounds
3) Etc, etc.
steve tea, manchester, cheshire
Two more years to nail the lid securely on Labour's coffin.
But two more years to damage our country.
It's difficult to feel, on balance, that that's a good thing.
Ben Elford, Bristol, UK
Gordon Brown is sitting pretty on an inflated salary, perks and pension funded from the public purse. When he goes he will end up in the House of Lords again on an inflated salary, perks and pension funded by the public purse.
Does he care.
Of course not.
Would you???
louis blanc, liverpool, UK
Cameron no better?
Well maybe ... maybe not. But that's not the point. there is certainly no one better in the Labour cabinet.
Labour have run their course, have deserted the right to be re-elected, they deserve to be replaced. Removing a government is the only real bit of Democracy we have left
TrevorH, OXON,
Tears of a Clown !!!
Ian Payne, WALSALL,
Nabil H,
A monkey could have run the country for the past ten years during a time of international growth. They had been taxing people to death throughout but they could generally afford it.
Now times are rough, we are in a deficit, the cost of living is astronomical, and they keep on taxing
Alexander , London, England
Lets not forget who Labour pander to, to keep them in power.
All those who want to stay on benefits.
All those who want the State to support them from cradle to grave.
louis blanc, liverpool, uk
Otis Boone, Sacramento CA, USA
If you listen to the BBC News and read The Times then you will be getting a pretty warped idea of feelings in the UK. The BBC in particular are looked on by many as the broadcasting unit of ZaNu Labour.
The comments and blogs tell you exactly what the feeling is!
Rob, Isle of Wight,
I have had enough of Labour, Gordon Brown, their rip off taxes and incompetence. I never thought I could despise a government as much as I despise this one. The Tories will win, David Cameron will be the next PM and I personally welcome them so they can change this country for the better.
D Leadbetter, Oxford, UK
do we reallly have to wait until 2010 for the next elecion? I can't wait to see the back of that man.
chris, cambrdge, Uk
Tony blair was right all along about Gordon Brown. He's always been insanely unpopular with the public, and without Tony he's just a rather ugly sad old man. Bring back the Tories and hopefully we'll have smaller government and less interference in our lives.
Tim, LLandudno,
The longer they wait for an election. The longer they will be out of power. So bring on election 2010!
James Ricks, Leicester, United Kingdom
At long last this staggeringly incompetent govt and its team of incredibly average ministers are getting the polls they really deserve. What sickens me is Browns insistence that it is purely international event that have left this country in such a mess. His face and voice makes me sick.
Robert H, Henley, UK
I hate to say I told so, but I told you so.
What a mess this dear country is now in, how could the British public ever have allowed the loony left to get back into power after all the failures of the past. Are people so easily fooled that they could not see they were out off their depth?
D Case, Newquay,
If Mr Brown is "listening" as he claimed then he would have resigned last week: This means he is a liar.
Brown's personal greed is destroying the party that nodded him into power without so much as a single vote being cast; they desrve what is happening to them.
Brown is just an amusement now.
Zen, London, Scotland
For me, yet again this shows how immature us the electorate are. Like mice, we want to jump ship when the going gets rough.
Still we voted for Labour in the three general elections, things are much better than they were in 1992-1997, particularly now there are more opportunities, better social care.
Nabil H, London, UK
Brown brought this on himself- the "power behind the Blair throne". Started day 1 with taxing pensions, then increasing everything he could tax- petrol, car tax, tuition fees, NI, even now the 10p is a mess but did anyone notice he raised another £550 in national insurance from the mid-earners? Go!
Phil A, Headley, Hampshire
As a person whom the BNP are against, I'd rather vote for them then Labour. From that view, people can judge the anger I have against NuLabor.
Mohammed, London, UK
I think we can all see where this will end,Gordons "health" will require him to step down he will still want to "do the job" but alas.
We of course will know the truth and Gordon can maintain his fantasy.
mitch, Wolverhampton, England
The speculation and trivial stories in the media certainly are in themselves contributing to the decline of Brown and Labour rather than just the politics. Media talk of a leadership contest and Labour losing the next election might just indirectly cause exactly those things - shame.
Gareth Speight, Coventry, West Midlands.
Brown declares he will remain as PM until the next General Election. With opinion polls showing Labour falling increasingly behind by the month, assume he won't call the election until 2010. So this is NL's last chance of power for some considerable time. Brace yourselves, this is going to hurt.
Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan
Really?? You havin a larf.
ronnie, bucks , uk
You can't keep dipping into people's pockets for 12 years without some of them noticing, no matter how expert a thief you are.
Edwin, Bucharest,
I wonder what difference a change of government will make, and just how disappointed voters will be to discover that behind all the empty rhetoric, there is nothing to choose between any of the three major parties: their policies are as near identical as makes no difference.Cameron?Brown? Who cares?
Mark Croucher, Dartford, Kent, UK
This makes you wonder if Tony Blair got out at the right time, or to prove a point to Mr. Brown about why he didn't give up the premiership earlier. I listen to BBC News via satellite here in the US, and figured this is the course his government was on once he didn't call the election.
Otis Boone, Sacramento CA, USA
"Bad news for Gordon Brown," should actually read, "Gordon Brown is Bad News."
Neil, Gloucestershire, England
I'm beginning to feel sorry for Gordon. He's getting a bit of a battering. There's only so long he can continue to claim he's the best leader for our country at the moment with polls like this. However, I can't help thinking that people our jumping on the bandwagon; would Cameron be any better?
James, Leeds, UK
It is amazing that 17% of the people interviwed consider Alistair Darling capable to do the job of Chancellor. He does not have the competence to be in charge of the parish church coffee morning fund.
Simon Draper, Nottinghamshire, England
And things can only get worse. With a thoroughly discredited government, static economic growth, rising inflation and unemployment and a deepening sense of national gloom, Gordon must be totally masochistic to carry on. Britain needs to renew itself, and if he really cared, he would just go.
Alan Gooch, Honiton,
No, no, no, Brown is doing a fine job and is the perfect person to lead OldLabour............ into obscurity at the next election.
Hopefully we'll never see these socialist wasters ever again.
Eddie, Harrogate, England
When will Gordon Brown get the message.
Peter Fordham, Pego, Spain
You see Mr Brown? The public are not as gullible as you think we are. We can detect lies and spin and shameless bribery.
This is now so redolent of the Tories in the 90s. Labour are blaming a failure to communicate and have constant relaunches. It will do no good. The clock is ticking.
Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK