to agree with sir lord sugar that Gordon brown should replace edd

[bonded]

Anyone else agree that Gordon brown should come back as the labour leader? I really miss him, and don't think edd can even compare to him with his economic ability.

Even lord sugar would be better, he has the brains and know how to be one of the world a most successful billionaires.

If they're going to ditch Ed, they should do it now. Possibly following up the Scottish Labour leadership competition. Miliband is just not a leader. He doesn't debate well, he doesn't express himself well, he doesn't come across as someone with principles. His only hope seems to be that people will want him as PM instead of David Cameron.

I'm really not a fan of the SNP or Alex Salmond, but at least he has been an effective leader. When I look at Cameron, Clegg and Miliband, I see small children dressing up as politicians.

For me personally, I don't like Ed. I think he'd probably make a good chancellor so a good No.2 but he just doesn't have the presence or strength to be No.1 I think. Also I'll always remember he screwed over his brother (who annoyingly definitely did seem to have the strength to be No.1) to get the job and that to me tells me a lot about his character that I don't like.

I don't think he screwed over his brother - they both wanted it, they both went for it, he won. Why should he have deferred to his brother?

Personally, though, I was never a huge fan of David either.

From memory David was always being groomed by the Labour Party as a future leader and then suddenly Ed stepped in at the last minute, won over the unions (who he now has a less than great relationship with) and ran with it. Ok they both had a right to go for it, but it felt wrong to me. David was held back by being known as being close to TB I think but I do think he could have come out of that shadow as a good leader. Definitely better than who we got left with anyway ... But that's just my opinion, and that's the thing about politics, everyone has one.

YABU to quote Lord Faily 'Entrepreneur' TV Arsehole about anything, but sadly I have to agree with him that GB is better than any of the current labour options, and would have me voting for Labour again if he was. Only idiots suggest that one man, running a small country, can cause a global financial crisis. The positive effects that he had on the UK economy far, far outweigh any supposed errors, not that I am sure he made any other than not being a 'cool kid' which seems to be what politicians aspire to. It would be nice to have an adult with some actual qualifications and an IQ higher than a turnip in charge.

Respected economic expert who believed that he'd found the solution to boom and bust whereas what he'd actually done is found a way to cause economic meltdown. The guy's a joke.

I think Tony Blair had been grooming David as a future leader, but there were many in the Labour Party who didn't agree. If Ed thought he would do a better job, I think he was right to stand. Though I still think he was the wrong choice.

I'm not sure if I would be prepared to give up on a lifelong ambition just to make way for my DSis tbh - not if I thought I was the better person for the job.

"He was a fucking disastrous Chancellor - and sold off our gold reserves on the cheap".
^ this ^

Could you explain how he caused economic meltdown doobledootch?

Some factions of the media and a few Tory politicians like to say this but I fail to understand how a British prime minister can cause a global recession.
FWIW I think Tony Blair saw it coming and gave it a swerver.
Perhaps someone who thinks that Gordon Brown caused the recession could explain their reasoning to us.

They choose the wrong brother it is not all about policies people vote for someone they feel can lead the country.

Why are labour playing safe isn't it time we had a woman leading the party I would like Harriet Harman though I am not sure she would win over the public. I would have preferred Jack Straw to Ed Balls. Then when he has had a few more years experience Chuka Umunna

Seems as though all of the shadow cabinet are very quiet these days we are not going to win the next election we would have a chance with David Miliband

I think the economy was really badly positioned for when the shit hit the fan, and he had continued the light touch financial regulation that has been growing since Thatcher (and which most main parties had been in favour of). Lots of personal debt, lots of people saving in foreign banks offering fantastic rates of interest (without asking how they were managing to pay the interest), pension schemes and councils invested in dodgy high risk products, very few people understanding what a bunch of traders (many in the US) were doing - then the whole house of cards tumbles in very short order and none of us are ready for it.

He was chancellor in the years leading up to it, so he does share some blame - but it wasn't him that caused it.

That's how I would see it OOAOML I didn't notice anyone else calling out for tougher regulation of the banks from any political party. So yes he shares some blame.
However a British chancellor or PM can't regulate what goes on in other countries such as the USA

I know my understanding of economics is limited and I suspect a lot of other people are parroting soundbites without fully understanding the issues.

Absolutely, regulating US traders doing fascinating things with sub-prime debt wasn't an option for him - and one of the problems for financial regulators is that there will always be people coming up with new and interesting (and probably incredibly risky) ways of making money. Which you can blame exclusively on the greed of 'evil bankers', or you can look a bit deeper and look at all the people who want to have a very comfortable retirement without actually putting much money away for it. Or all the people who see a fabulous rate of interest and never wonder how it is achieved.

What is needed, and could be done (and significant steps are being made) is to ensure that investors/customers understand what they are buying - not necessarily all the nuts and bolts, but understanding the level of risk, and deciding whether it is worth it to them. A lot of work is being done here on classifying investments, greater visibility and more regulation on how products are sold.

GB is slightly hampered by the whole 'selling the gold at rock bottom price' thing as well though.

I've always liked Gordon Brown. He came across as genuine and he inherited a lot of shit from Tony Blair. The recession was global and not his fault.
I'd love for him to be the Scottish Labour Leader. Jim Murphy is okay but GB would be the best person to shut that nippy SNP cow up.
I don't like ed miliband at all but ed balls is ok.

By running the economy on credit and forgetting that you need to pay it back again.

I have immense respect for GB, but don't think there's any way he'd return to that role. Interesting link about Alan Johnson - i was very disappointed when he didn't stand for the leadership. I think he would make Labour eminently more electable.

It is depressing that it is all about the personalities though. Balls/ Cooper/ Burnham may have more media know-how and interpersonal skills than EM, but it is more of the same. I want to see a Labour party with a clear direction that its supporters can actually believe in, rather than trying to compete with the tories and ukip on their territory. I feel that voting for labour right now is like voting for tory lite.

silveroldie2
And this is why he had to sell off the gold and why he was respected for doing do by people who understand economics.

From The Telegraph, not part of his fan base.

blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/thomaspascoe/100018367/revealed-why-gordon-brown-sold-britains-gold-at-a-knock-down-price/

I did like Gordon Brown but I don't think he can come back. History will be kind to him and value his strengths more than his undoubted flaws. Basic integrity goes a long way with me.

Christ no... I like Gordon and I respect him but in a bumbling slightly bonkers old Uncle sort of way. He's most definitely not a natural born leader, neither is Ed. They both seem genuine and lovely, I bet they're hilarious when pissed . But I don't trust or want either of them leading the country.

Ed should be replaced by his brother. David should have been the leader, if he had have been I reckon Labour would get the overall majority next year by a fairly clear margin. But the idiots voted the wrong brother in and now I just don't know. Too late in the game to change anything now though .

You beat me to the Torygraph link there :)
I really like Gordon Brown. I think he has a gravitas and integrity to him. But he can't do the lightweight shallow political posturing that Blair and Cameron do and which is beloved of the media.
He would alienate a huge swathe of voters who believe the myths.
So no he can't come back. Even though Ed is like a floundering sixth form head boy.

"I've always liked Gordon Brown. He came across as genuine and he inherited a lot of shit from Tony Blair. The recession was global and not his fault.
I'd love for him to be the Scottish Labour Leader. "

I agree, Frankie. He's a convincing and powerful orator. His Referendum speech was terrific (even if I disagreed!). Timing in terms of recession and damage done by TB was lousy. And the spinners trying to train him to smile instead of being himself was a disaster.

Last time I was on a Mumsnet thread that was overwhelmingly approving of Gordon it got pulled because of doubts about the OP. I've made a copy of this one.

Why, why,why do we allow the media to lead us by the nose until we want celebs for politicians rather than highly educated economists.
Why do we value shallow political posturing and spin. It makes me despair a bit-but it does look like in the longer term people do note politicians actual behaviour.

I have a massive amount of respect for GB.

I also like Alan Johnson and would rate his as Leader of Labour over any of the Millibands, Balls or anyone else.

By running the economy on credit and forgetting that you need to pay it back again

That was GBs idea was it? No one, or no country has ever done that before then?