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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that Gordon Brown

46 replies

CagedBird · 11/05/2010 19:25

...may have won the election had he shown the dignity, confidence, calmness and genuineness throughout the election campaign as he has just shown in his resignation speech?

OP posts:
tethersend · 11/05/2010 19:32

No- I think people see what they want to see. Gordon's card was marked. Some of us saw that side to him during the election campaign- some of us didn't.

I am very sad to see him go.

Original poster
CagedBird · 11/05/2010 19:42

I guess you have a fair point. Through the election campaign I couldn't see past the awkwardness, he seemed very "schooled" in how to talk, how to smile, I felt he was always nervous and unconfident in what he was saying.

I guess without all the pressure on him, he can afford to relax and speak from the heart.

OP posts:
MrsC2010 · 11/05/2010 19:52

I think had he not been so coached to smile more etc etc and be more a la Tony Blair I always would have liked him more. He should have been allowed to be who he was, a slightly dour Scotsman. I think he was very unfortunate being lumbered with TB's legacy (I never could stand TB anyway) and given that aftermath was never going to overcome the power of spin this election. I also think he came across much better in the debates than the edited 'highlights' shown by BBC etc would have us believe.

RunawayWife · 11/05/2010 20:01

I think it is disgusting that when he left Buckingham Palace after meeting the queen He was not given police outriders.

I really am sad to see him go.

deaddei · 11/05/2010 20:04

I agree MrsC.
I hate the manipulation by Campbell et al.
Not sorry to see him go, but hopes he will be happy in whatever he chooses to do next.

yama · 11/05/2010 20:10

That is how I have always seen Gordon Brown. To me he is the only current politician with any principles.

I am not influenced by the media's portrayal of him.

McDreamy · 11/05/2010 20:11

What a great speech!

DuelingFanjo · 11/05/2010 20:12

I think he has been genuine all through his leadership. He was constantly got at for not being at ease with people but that was him, he did a fine job and when Cameron royaly fucks up in the very near future and another election is called I think many people will realise what a great prime minidter they lost in Brown.

ASecretLemonadeDrinkerDAVE · 11/05/2010 20:13

Well, I was suprised to see (even though I have been seeing it for days) now close it actually was - only 8 seats between Conservatives and Labour, so he must have been doing something right. I have really warmed to GB these past few weeks, he seems such a lovely chap

unfitmother · 11/05/2010 20:13

YANBU but I think you're wrong, he would still have been vilified by the press no matter what he did. Just you wait, people are sneering already here on MN.

TheLadyEvenstar · 11/05/2010 20:30

I always like Mr G Brown....am sorry to see him go

VicToryA · 11/05/2010 20:31

Am I the only person on MN who thinks he's frightful?

wahwah · 11/05/2010 20:34

I'm sorry to see him go too. I always liked Gordon ( and Sarah ). Now we've got two slimy men who've cut a deal which does neither any credit, in my uninformed opinion!

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 11/05/2010 20:34

No VicToryA, you are not.

TheLadyEvenstar · 11/05/2010 20:45

The thing i can't wait to see is how 2 parties with such opposing values and views are going to work together

Firawla · 11/05/2010 20:46

I liked him too, and sorry to see him go. Don't really understand why many people hate him so much, as politicians go he seems quite 'genuine' to me

PerArduaAdNauseum · 11/05/2010 20:47

What Yama said.

Con-dem will only work with compromise to their core values - not the principled government Gordon was asking for.

TheJollyPirate · 11/05/2010 20:47

I always liked him - I didn't vote for him (or "Call me Dave" Cameron either) and infinitely prefer him to DC.

Original poster
CagedBird · 11/05/2010 20:50

I think you're right unfitmother (I feel like i've just called you something vile) but he would have been vilified.

Personally I felt that he didn't have principles and the way in which he dispatched Tony Blair (who I despised anyhow), felt very underhanded and deceitful and he never really recovered from that in my eyes. He tried to go with the "now I'm the PM this is a new labour party" but it really wasn't, and that's why I couldn't vote for him. But ffs the lib dems have just gone and signed a deal with the devil.

You are so right TLE how can to such opposing parties with quite different manifesto's work together?

OP posts:
Original poster
CagedBird · 11/05/2010 20:51

er two not to

OP posts:
wigglybeezer · 11/05/2010 20:57

I think we always saw him like that in Scotland, he has old fashioned presbyterian values very familiar to anyone (like me) who sat through a Church of Scotland sermon every Sunday of their childhood. I felt quite at home with GB (who reminds me of my Dad and my Granny) in a way I know I never will with DC.

VicToryA · 11/05/2010 20:59

I suppose one thing to be happy about is that even if the Con/Lib pact collapses and Labour get back into power (perish the thought), GB will never, ever, ever be PM again. That is something to be so unspeakably happy about. I thought I detested Blair until Brown ousted him.

DuelingFanjo · 11/05/2010 21:04

why do you dislike Brown so much VicToryA?

hogshead · 11/05/2010 21:05

i think the way GB has acted since the results of the election came in has been very dignified despite what the media have portrayed

ilovemydogandMrBrown · 11/05/2010 21:09

"I suppose one thing to be happy about is that even if the Con/Lib pact collapses and Labour get back into power.."

Not if but when

If they can't even work out a deal in 5 days, it's going to be a disaster. Even their names are so opposed to each other. liberal is at the opposite spectrum of conservative

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