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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hope that Gordon Brown doesn't resign?

252 replies

mrsruffallo · 05/06/2009 09:24

I still don't think he is doing a bad job. I think he is a very caring and intelligent politician, and I hope he stays.
Am I the only one who feels like this?

OP posts:
smee · 05/06/2009 11:04

here's what AC thinks:
www.alastaircampbell.org/blog.php
Pretty much echoed by Ken Livingstone on Newsnight last night. Big shame about Gordon I think - most definitely a good man, though a little less than good at the public persona stuff. Hope he hangs on, though I can't quite believe the number of gaffs he makes..

margotfonteyn · 05/06/2009 11:17

Thanks Smee
Strangely, that's what I think too.

Will look up the blog now.

ChocolateRabbit · 05/06/2009 11:46

Sorry, FPTP is first past the post and AV is alternative vote (where you vote for one first choice and one second choice) and PR is proportional representation.

Tamarto · 05/06/2009 11:47

Thanks for that.

WhoDidThat · 05/06/2009 11:58

I am glad someone else has commented on the way GB is being relentlessly attacked at the moment. I am finding the media behaviour astonishing - they don't report the news anymore they are trying to make the news and tell us that everything that happens is an attack on GB so they whip up this idea that all is collapsing around him. It makes me laugh that when a dodgy Labour MP resigns it is reported as another blow for GB .... but I don't hear anyone reporting the Tory scroungers going as an attack on DC. Apparently the real ruler of our country right now is actually Rupert Murdoch and it worries me that most people just believe what they read or hear on the BBC and don't stop to question it at all. For example, how many people have noticed that the economy has actually started to pick up now - probably no-one because that is not so headline winning as bashing GB. He is not perfect and has made mistakes but he is vastly experienced and has done a lot of good things too. I hope he is given the chance to keep going, but the media beast is snowballing out of control so i doubt that he will.

happywomble · 05/06/2009 12:05

I just don't like James Purnell or Hazel Blears..so if people like them are the alternative to Gordon I'd rather have Gordon!

MrsMattie · 05/06/2009 12:06

I dunno. Brown was such a terrible backstabber in Blair's time. He showed no loyalty and now he commands no loyalty from his government. I think it's inevitable Labour will lose in the next election if he stays, and perhaps, perhaps, if someone else takes over as leader they will have a cat's chance in hell of getting in. Which I would like to see, because policy-wise, Labour are still the party I would vote for.

I do think Brown is being scapegoated for a) the collapse of the world economy and b) the MP expenses scandal. I don't find him a likeable man or a charismatic politician, and I'm not sure I have much faith in him as a leader (never did, really), but I refuse to buy all the horrid hype in the press about him. He is not half as bad as the vast majority of the Tory party.

I find it deeply depressing that anyone would ever vote Tory again after what Thatcher did to this country.

MrsMattie · 05/06/2009 12:09

margot - I should think Blair is thinking 'I'm well out of it, mate!'. Lucky him. Got out just before the world's economy collapsed and politics in this country started to crumble. Bet he is privately wagging his finger and saying 'Told you, Gordon. Be careful what you wish for!'

Original poster
mrsruffallo · 05/06/2009 17:10

Is he a backstabber?
He doesn't seem the type to me

OP posts:
KERALA1 · 05/06/2009 17:14

I like him too. He seems a decent man and reminds me of my old headmaster (which is a good thing).

Am feeling guilty now that I voted Lib Dem on the basis they have the most support in this area to keep out the loony UKIP/BNP types.

Jux · 05/06/2009 17:24

He did have a little clique who hated Blair and liked putting the boot in. Not sure whether he was actually responsible for that, but he could have stopped them if he'd tried.

JimmyMcNulty · 05/06/2009 18:07

Where does all this 'a decent man' stuff come from? And the idea that privately he is lovely? Genuinely interested.

Perhaps there is an element of bullying in what is being done to him at the moment, but really, he is more than capable of appalling bullying himself.

I don't believe Cameron would have done much differently however, when it comes to the economy etc. and is very weak on so many policies. He is IMO more stable as a personality though.

Original poster
mrsruffallo · 05/06/2009 19:02

Stable on personality, weak on policy
Vote Cameron

Do I feel an election slogan coming on?

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsruffallo · 05/06/2009 19:03

BTW I love you Jimmy
You feel me?
Aiiight

OP posts:
WinkyWinkola · 05/06/2009 19:04

"England can get the conservative government they want."

Not my England! The Conservatives don't represent me and my England.

MrsMattie · 05/06/2009 19:06

God, I love Jimmy McNulty. I did say on another thread that Stringer Bell and Jimmy McNulty would be my ideal threesome (if I did threesomes, which I ^don't!) ...but it didn't go down too well .

I don't think Brown is a 'lovely man' or a 'bad person'. He is a politician. Astute and wiley and pretty self serving. I respect him in many ways, but I don't think he was ever cut out to lead the country. I will vote for him as leader of the Labour party over any other political party, though. Cameron is a flake, and I don;'t trust his softly-softly approach. Give him some power and he will show his true blue Tory colours.

MrsMattie · 05/06/2009 19:08

I will weep if the Tories get in. Honestly. I will cry as hard as I whopped when Labour got in and Portillo lost his seat

MrsMattie · 05/06/2009 19:08

whooped...although whopping is probably good fun, too

Original poster
mrsruffallo · 05/06/2009 19:08

MrsMattie- Did you know that Stringer (or the actor who plays him) is from Hackney?
So near and yet...

OP posts:
Thunderduck · 05/06/2009 19:09

YANBU. I quite like him. And I think a change of PM would be a bad idea while all of this is going on. There's quite enough upheaval without adding to it.

I think the Labour party need to stop squabbling amongst themselves and get on with supporting the party.
The last thing we need is the Conservatives to take power again, not that I agree with everything Labour has done, but they're better than the alternative imho.

I don't like or trust David Cameron.

WinkyWinkola · 05/06/2009 19:11

This kind of report about Cameron depresses me more because it makes me think there are no alternatives left for the British people. But I need to learn more about Mr. Clegg

MrsMattie · 05/06/2009 19:12

Get outta here!!!!!!!@mrsruffalo. I knew he was English, but not a Hackney boy!

He chatted my friend up about 10 yrs ago in a club and she was not interested at all. Oh how she weeps now

Yum yum yum to him and McNulty.

Original poster
mrsruffallo · 05/06/2009 19:15

Yes CONCENTRATE...

I think I've scared Jimmy off anyway

OP posts:
yama · 05/06/2009 19:15

Londoneone - Scotland is part of Britain. I find your view about votes 'north of the border' being 'foisted' on 'England' rather distasteful (I can think of another word but I'll refrain).

What about Wales and Northern Ireland. Would you eradicate the votes being 'foisted upon' 'England' from there too?

LilianGish · 05/06/2009 19:16

YANBU. I also voted Labour yesterday to try and register a bit of support. The expenses debacle is across all the parties - noone comes out of it well. Brown should have sacked a few of his sinners (many have resigned anyway) to take control of the situation. I also don't think he can be held responsible for the international economic crisis - let's face it the Tories were leading the charge when it came to deregulation of the banks. I think the real problem for Labour has been the lack of any viable opposition - which is why I hope Gordon stays.