Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Politics
Original poster

For Mr Dear Gordon Brown and Family, because I know Sarah Brown may lurk, a support thread

307 replies

expatinscotland · 11/05/2010 01:14

although I can't dictate that, I hope that is how it turns out.

I for one will miss you. I and my family will be sad to see you go. They've painted not just the town but most of the country red for you!

I think your heart was in the right place, though I did not always, and I think you really cared, even about people like us, in the Highlands of Scotland.

I hope when it's all over, that you and your family come home to Fife and enjoy a retirement.

We don't live in the East anymore, and it will all I can do to keep us here for now. But my husband and my elder two are from the East in Edinburgh, and all their family from Fife and the Perthshire Highlands, who accepted me, a foreigner, as their own when they were under no obligation to do so.

You are so welcome up here.

The Queen Mother, daughter of the Earl Strathmore said, 'Duty is the rent you pay on life.'

You took that to heart, and regardless of what others may say, some of us believe that, maybe even the Queen!

Best of luck to you and yours and just to know, you are not without your supporters, Mr Brown (I think that is how he is called but forgive me if not).

Well done. And, as Churchill said, 'Keep b*ggering on.'

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
drofluf · 16/05/2010 07:50

I thought I was alone in thinking all this - I send GB a message via the Labour Party website the other day.
You didn't deserve the hideous press and vicious insults launched at you. You slaved away for your Downing Street years without anyone saying anything pleasant it seems - a certain smug journalist even wrote a book a few months ago tearing you to shreds, and has made money from it. Used to like that journalist - but considering boycotting his newspaper now.
You have so much more to give the world and I'm sure will in time. This is not about party politics but decency. I read some of the posts on the Daily Mail website and was horrified as the nastyness! Party of the Family and decency they think (oops just turned it party political)
Good luck to you and your family!
And remember plenty of decent folks - not just in Scotland - admire and respect and like you.

pinkfizzle · 15/05/2010 22:26

You know what I think the sure start centres are absolutely brilliant!

drosophila · 15/05/2010 18:13

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/gallery/2010/may/12/gordon-brown-labourleadership?picture=362535519 A bit closer. I think this is important as he was so betrayed as a cold individual. He wasn't good in front of the camera.

SnailWhaleTail · 15/05/2010 18:12

I loved Gordon, sad to see him go.

drosophila · 15/05/2010 18:10

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/gallery/2010/may/13/general-election-2010?picture=362662292 I've seen a more close up photo. Will hunt it down.

I heard Oona King talk about the time her nursery was closed and she turned up with a baby on her hip for her first one to one with GB. What did GB do. Found a trainset and got down on his knees.

drosophila · 15/05/2010 18:10

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/gallery/2010/may/13/general-election-2010?picture=362662292 I've seen a more close up photo. Will hunt it down.

I heard Oona King talk about the time her nursery was closed and she turned up with a baby on her hip for her first one to one with GB. What did GB do. Found a trainset and got down on his knees.

AliceL · 15/05/2010 17:26

Best wishes to all the family. What lovely boys - I was glad you did allow us one picture of them and I am sure they will be pleased to have it in the future.

I really appreciate the priority you gave to children and real help to families to try to balance work and home. Shame if that gets hit in the first budget post election.

Great to have had Sarah's tweeting - I think she is carrying on - and I hope you both go on to find family friendly roles as well as being great parents.

alicatte · 15/05/2010 14:36

Good Luck Mr Brown, you are a good man and I was touched by your final speech.

I have not 'benefitted' personally from New Labour but I do remember the previous Conservative administration and you and your colleagues did so very much better - I cannot understand how anyone however devoted to the conservative party cannot see that. History is already on your side in that respect and truth will remain truth no matter what spin is put on it.

thatsnotmymonkey · 14/05/2010 22:13

I wept when I saw you leave.

You are a good man, with integrity and an inner moral compass. I trusted you and knew you were in my corner.

My DH and I have bought our own house, have good jobs and a good standard of living, our son has benefited from Working Tax Credits, Child trust fund, sure start and so much more.

pocketmonster · 14/05/2010 22:05

Best of luck from me too. Great thread.

I also believe history will look kindly on both you and TB.

I would be happier if this country was being led by your and AD.

I think Rupert Murdoch is a disgrace to mankind never mind journalism.

The personal comments made about you reflected more on the crass individuals that made them.

You seem a solid loving family and I am sure that whatever you do in the future will be a success.

bessiesmum · 14/05/2010 21:37

My daughter says he was dealt a bad hand, she is 14 years old and although not offically old enough yesterday she joined the Labour party...because they care about people ...I am so proud of her.

I agree with so many of the posts ...Gordon Brown is a prince amongest men....why could so many not see it?

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 14/05/2010 19:52

I already tweeted @SarahBrown but wanted to add my two cents' here too.

I always thought of Gordon Brown as a principled, serious, and committed politician and felt he had his priorities straight - particularly about lifting children out of poverty and making it possible for women to have a family and work.

Some of the media coverage he and Sarah received was truly appalling and unnecessarily personal and made me ashamed to live in this country.

I wish them all the best of luck with whatever they do next and hope they're all having a fabulous rest somewhere - they deserve it!

carocaro · 14/05/2010 19:46

I would like to thank Gordon Brown for the Go'vt Mortgage Releif scheme, which has enable us to stay in our house after both being made redundant.

He brought the scheme in to help people like us unable to pay our mortgage becuase of redundancy and not be reposessed after a few months.

So our boys (3 and 8) are happy and secure and we've kept the house, DH has a new job and I have some freelance stuff, so we are on the way back up! It also made us more motivated, not that we lazy about finding jobs, far from it, but we felt looked after and cared for by the state we have been paying into since we were both 18 (now 39 and 40).

So cheers Gordon!

LadyBiscuit · 14/05/2010 19:37

I cried the night you left Downing Street. Not just because I was devastated that a Tory PM was walking through the door but because I have always thought you one of our most unfairly maligned PMs. As a Cof the E you could do no wrong but bliar got out just in time before the economy tanked and you were left holding the baby. I have the utmost respect for you and thought your resignation speech was one of the most dignified I have ever heard. You and your wife personify RK's If.

I wish you a peaceful and happy retirement from leadership from our country

Beachcomber · 14/05/2010 19:28

This is so obviously not the place to post comments such as that by Drjgb. Just one thing though in response to such rudeness - think that every time you go to the cash-line and withdraw your hard earned money, you are only able to do thanks to the swift, decisive and intelligent actions of Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling. The ungratefulness of much of the British public really beggars belief.

If you are pissed off with anybody, be pissed off with those who make a profit by gambling on the stock markets. They do so at the expense of everybody else.

cinnamontoast · 14/05/2010 19:09

Explatinscotland, thank you for setting up this thread - it's a brilliant idea. I am so sorry to see it hijacked by a vindictive poster who clearly doesn't understand that it is not the place to vent your views on politics but rather one to honour a man who we respect and admire - and there are plenty of people who didn't vote Labour paying tribute on here.

Drjgb, what you have done here is the equivalent of writing a nasty message in someone's leaving card at the office party. You should be ashamed.

Original poster
expatinscotland · 14/05/2010 18:59

'they will get smaller pensions because of what the outgoing Labour government has done.'

they'll get smaller pensions for more and more people living longer and longer.

duh.

OP posts:
Original poster
expatinscotland · 14/05/2010 18:57

'The women posting their ridiculous plaudits to Brown here are too clueless to deserve the vote: a disgrace to the suffragette movement. '

Not sharing the same beliefs as someone else is not a condition of disenfranchisement, thankfully. Fortunately, the women of the suffragette movement were more open-minded than you, hence, they pursued universal suffrage for females.

And men also vote Labour. Or is it just women you reserve ire for if they disagree with you?

OP posts:
drjgbrown · 14/05/2010 18:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

allegrageller · 14/05/2010 16:53

*GB not GV of course!

allegrageller · 14/05/2010 16:53

I love this thread. GB was a principled politician, and I do not think that we will see his like again for some time. Likewise, Sarah dealt with her duties and the appalling press she and GV received with perfect grace.

As ConDemNation not doubt begin to dismantle the good work GB has fought so hard to do, he will be missed more each year I think.

I also actually cried seeing the family leave no.10! I will never forget the passion with which GB spoke about the working people of Britain- nurses in particular. Good luck Gordon, Sarah, John and Fraser and keep us all informed about your work.

childrenschampion · 14/05/2010 16:46

That should read "misrepresentation" of course...sorry for the typo!

childrenschampion · 14/05/2010 16:33

Like so many on this thread I shed a tear watching the family leave hand in hand after Gordon Brown's address.
This man takes duty seriously and took responsibility for Labour not winning the election. Yet their vote increased overall in the face of a vicious media campaign against a decent man, who i saw won the debates hands down on real policy; while the other two just repeated key phrases and words...and already we can see their " pledges" are meaningless.
I think Sarah Brown did well to remain calm and dignified despite her anger at the total misprepresentation of her husband by the media, especially when they broadcast a private conversation.
I want to thank you, Gordon Brown, for:
Dealing with the world banking crisis and preventing total meltdown of our economy
For the minimum wage
For tax credits
For better maternity and paternity leave
For parents' rights to work flexibly
For childcare, surestart, early education and bringing children out of poverty
For civil partnerships
For allowing those who took time out to care for children or others to claim these years towards their pension
For integrity and conviction in pulling together so many policies which help families and the poor, sick and disabled.

For intelligence, compassion and for being, what history will show, one of the best Chancellors and PM this country ever had.

Already the "rainbow" logo of the department of children families and schools has been dismantled by the new government ...

You have inspired me to do more for this country - and I have joined the labour party.

I wish you, Sarah and the children more happy time together and I know you will continue to serve your constituency andthe labour party well.

very best wishes and thank you!

cinnamontoast · 14/05/2010 12:32

I posted here earlier (diff name) but just wanted to say that since this election I have joined the Labour party and am keen to do a Politics A level or other qualification. I have been a Labour supporter all my life and wonder why I didn't take these two steps before. I think the answer must be that politics always seemed very slightly grubby. Gordon Brown has changed that for me, by showing me it is possible to be honourable, to make a difference and to do the right thing. I am determined to make up for earlier inactivity, so thanks for being such an inspiration, Mr Brown!

bandgeek · 14/05/2010 11:47

Just wanted to echo everything everyone else has already said, you will be missed as PM (although I am so glad you are still my MP )

Your boys are absolutely beautiful as well