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He's said he'll lead a government of 'all the talents', which goes to show that spin hasn't departed with the painfully slow departure of its greatest exponent.

Oh, and if it's all been so swimmingly wonderful the last ten years - with so many 'achievements', why is it now necessary to have 'new ideas and vision'?

Gordon, don't bother 'listening and learning'. You've had 10 years - why start now?

Nick, I have just watched Tony's "ringing endorsement" of Gordon Brown. Seems to me he was very uncomfortable with the words he was saying - if he was a used car salesman I would have gone somewhere else!

Steve

Nick,

Isn't it a fact that this current government has got into a position where it can do what it likes, when it likes and without any hint of opposition, to the point where it is prepared to 'elect' a leader, probably without any reference to the labour party rank and file, let alone the country in general?

Doesn't this strike you as the complete opposite of the democratic ideal we all cling to?

We have to accept that the leader of a political party becomes PM, and we've known that Gordon will become PM ever since Tony announced he was retiring (in order to secure the doubters at the last general election).

What I find illustrates the true nature of Tony though, is that he does appear not to want to hand the crown to Gordon - eventhough this is what they clearly agreed with each other. And when Gordon allegedly said to Tony, fairly recently, that "I'll never trust anything you say again" we have to wonder how it is that Gordon could arrive so late at such a judgement - after all, some people have never trusted what Tony has said. The other problem we have to bear in mind is that Gordon might have known all along that Tony could not be trusted, but when he was on the receiving end of this, it hurt more than it did when mere electors were being misled. Anyway, if Gordon is made up to be leader of the party then he automatically becomes PM. And good luck to him.

He launched his bid at Imagination in London. That must me the same Imagination that was responsible for what went into the Dome. Not a very good choice to launch his leadership bid?

I wonder if his government is doomed like the Dome?

If Tony Blair undertook at the last election to serve a "full term" then the electorate are entitled to expect that he does just that. Unlike Thatcher who was overthrown by a "coup" Blair has gone of his own volition. Blair has thus planned to deceive the electorate Thatcher did not. We should not have Brown foisted upon us. Won't happen though with Labour at a low in the polls and broke to boot!

Is Brown the new Black this season?

Nick-You statement that the campaign launch had the makeup,young people,the cheers etc sounds just like the start of the Blair years.Have the campaign managers of Labour got any new ideas,or do they think that the electorate are so stupid to be taken in by another bit of Labour spin.
Can"Spitting Image"come back as well,they would have a field day.
We are all a bit tired of all the media having Blair,his legacy,Brown,the new cabinet,the differences between them,cherie,etc.Do you not realize it is now a bit boring,we know Brown will be PM,it is not news but for the next 6 weeks all the press is going to be full of it.It might interest the Westminster Village but to most of the country it will a coronation not an election.

Jeremy - I don't think it's true to say Blair deceived us - he DID mean to serve a full term. However, like Thatcher, he was overthrown by a coup - it was last September you may recall. The only difference was that he was given a year to leave rather than a few days. I think Nick you were therefore a bit generous yesterday when you said Blair was going at a time 'of his own choosing'.

Yes ,the dreams can one day become a reality if one has the burning desire to reach the pinacle of one's career if one can keep his or he head down and work hard to achieve and not just dream and dream aimlessly.

'Brown for Britain'

'Bartlet for America'

The 'Where's Gordon' questions have clearly been answered. He's been in watching DVDs of The West Wing.

At the last election Blair said he would leave office after he had served one more full term as Prime Minister.

He intends to step down on 27 June, so that will be end of his 'full term'. It surely follows that Blair's government will finish at the same time. What other meaning is there of 'full term'?

We as a country are therefore entitled to expect a general election to choose the next government.

Nick,

I've just voted on the ´óÏó´«Ã½s mini poll - "Who should be the next leader?" The result so far shows that over 50% of the 12600 votes cast are for 'None of the above'.

I'm not an expert but 12,000 is a larger sample than the usual Mori / Gallup excercises.

What should we make of the fact that the one of the (allegedly) greatest democracies in the world is getting a PM that the vast majority of the country doesn't want...

... literally anyone but Gordon according to the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

Nick
is any political correspondent/editor going to ask Gordon Brown what to me seems blindly obvious- that is how he reconciles words such as intregity, trust, humility, admission of mistakes, listening etc with his huge stealth taxes, and the fact that he has alienated millions of voters who cannot claim tax credits when he made them worse off in this years budget??
seems he speaks with forked tongue.....

Perhaps now we will have a PM who will restore some dignity to the position. At least Brown doesn't appear to be the type to be dazzled by so called celebrities.

Nick, I feel sorry for you, having to spend time watching these politicians lying and cheating all the time. I have a simple policy of switching channels when I see Brown's face - and I never read any newspaper article by a politician (except Frank Field). I'm sure the ´óÏó´«Ã½ would become very popoular if it said it was not going to broadcast any statement by any politician for the next 6 months. Try it !

Gordon Brown, "gordon brown who,?" is this the new catch phrase for "Gordon Bennet," God Help us, i just hope he never wears a kilt, this government is very Heath Robertson,and their falling like nine pins already, the BNP is looming as an alterantive, because so many Labour Ministers are saying the wrong words, hope Gordon Bennets about were going to need him, the Cross of St George, brings home what Nationalism is all about,??