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

[expatinscotland]

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.'

Mr Brown, I think history will be kinder to you than the 24/7 media we are living in at the moment. You are a conviction politician, and almost a different breed to the professional types that are leading other parties.

Me and the kids campaigned for our local Labor party candidate, and talked to lots of people. Not one expressed disapproval of yourself as PM.

And believe me, no one said PR was a personal issue either

Well, if he's reading I wanted to say that I think it's really unfair that his looks and awkwardness were criticised so much. Not everyone is gregarious and I thought some of the comments made were far roo personal and unfair.

just want to echo what others have sai on this thread. I really admire your integrity and what you have managed to achieve not only for Britain, but in your tireless support for international development. I wish you all the best for the future.

i agree with expat in everything she says

Amen to that, Expat.

(from somebody who has never had the right vote, lived in the uk 15 years and loved it, and still cares)

I didn't vote Labour and haven't been a great fan of GB as a politician, but have huge admiration and respect for him as an individual. He's an intellectual heavyweight who went into politics when he could probably have had far greater financial rewards elsewhere.

• without the stresses of living in the public eye being ripped apart by the media on a regular basis.

Enjoy family life Gordon and Sarah - you deserve it!

Totally agree expat.

Yes he made mistakes as PM but who wouldn't have, would TB or a Tory PM done any better.

He bailed out the banks which kept my husband in a job (before I get shot down he's not a greedy banker earning £££s) and did some great things already mentioned here.

I will miss him.

tashtodd, there are plenty of other threads for that.

Brilliant idea Expat.

I have a really high regard for Gordon Brown. A lot of respect for him as he has had a bloody hard time of it (since PM). I have hated hated the way the right wing media have pulled him to pieces and over analysed his every mood. I truly believe (and so do so many people in RL) that GB is a good, strong man with firm beliefs and a sense of justice.

That speech he made last week at Citizens UK summed him up - strong, impassioned, intelligent and striving to achieve, and encourage everyone in this country to aspire to a better life.

I think Sarah Brown has completly changed how we see the role of the PM's wife. Coming after Cherie Blair she has shownb that you can have an important role as the PM's wife, without being a malign and distracting force. I think she is hugely admirable and likeable.

GB was utterly crucified by the Murdoch press. It was disgusting to see. I live in hope that people are not as stupid as the tabloid editors think we are - and that most people saw through it as the RW propaganda it was.

I wish him every luck in the future. Somehow, I don't think he will be swanning around the world doing well paid lectures. Like others have said I hope that history will judge him fairly.

Well said Expat. I agree completely and wish them all the best.

Well said. Gordon Brown can rightly be proud of the majority achieved in the past 13 years. I am sad to see him go. I feel he has gone as he is as terrified as I am of the conservatives in power & felt this was the last card to play. He has shown integrity & grace under fire throughout the despicable Murdoch led smear campaign against him.

Sarah Brown comes over as an elegant, calm person with a lot of common sense. She has been a rock for her husband and completely dignified.

I'm not a Labour voter so politics aside, I hope the Brown family find peace to enjoy a normal family life after all the hullabulloo has passed.

Dear Mr Brown,

I would like to say, that you are one of the few politicians I have ever trusted, or felt was genuine.

I think the way you were treated by the media is horrific, and that history will treat you more kindly.

You were a wonderful Chancellor, and brilliant Prime Minister (especially since it seems the media was against you from the start, and Tony stepped out just as things were going pear-shaped).

I hope that you enjoy having this time to spend with your family!

[great thread expat!]

I think GB did an admirable job, actually. It's time for him to step down, yes, but I commend him for his good work and for taking all the bile and blame aimed at him on the chin.

He inherited the public outrage over Iraq and lurched straight into an international economic crisis for which he was scapegoated by the gobshite Tory press. He is a man of incredible strength and spirit to have survived all of that (and not just 'survive' - continued to govern with vigour and intelligence).

I hated all the 'wives' hype in the media, by the way - ridiculous guff - but I secretly harboured an admiration and fondness for Sarah Brown. An intelligent, sensitive, understated sort of woman.

I would also like to despair at the fact that it seems this country are so taken in by appearance and spin doctors. Have a genuine, intelligent, devoted politician, and the media tears them apart, bring on a shiny, fakey fakey strawman, and they fawn over them. It's very sad.

Totally agree with both your possts Abs - well put.

I am really sad to see you go Gordon, a true convictions politician. I really respect you and what you have achieved for this country. I really don't think that there is anyone in the Labour party who is more worthy than you at the moment. I hope you can relax a bit with your family now .

Dear Gordon Brown,

You were a great chancellor and a good PM - and I thought it was really unfair that as PM you were expected to be more blairishly smooth than comes naturally. FWIW I liked it when you looked serious and highbrow. You didn't need PR-ifying!

My 4-yo son loves you and is very upset you're no longer our leader. We have often got him into his pjs by telling him you have issued a dictat that all pjs are banned (reverse psychology you see )

PS why not come back to scotland, lead labour to victory and be first minister?

Well i too am very sad of a labour without GB as leader. I have the utmost respect for you and your wife the lovely Sarah and wish you all the best with retirement. I think it is amazing to hear that you will continue to help more with charities-it just shows what a warm, caring and passionate person you are.

You have a great understanding of the hardships and needs many families have in this country.Yes you have made mistakes like the rest of us but im a firm believer it can be forgiven if your heart is in the right place and i definitely believe yours is.I will miss sharing the passion and the visions you had for this country.I can say this with all honesty you have changed mine and my childrens life. Tax credits, childrens centres, the NHS i could go on and on.I think people will realise what they had when you are gone.God bless you and may life treat you and your family well much love and best wishes xx

And Sarah behind every great man is a great women xxx

Yesterday I was sad but proud to be a Brown supporter. Gordon, you exemplify everything that is good about Britain, your honest and integrity, your warmth and humour, your passion for this country, your love for your family.

I wish you and your family much happiness in your future together, wherever you may find yourselves.

Gordon has been a truly honourable public servant and away from a hysterical right-wing press you will be remembered well in history.

So glad to see that there are people out there who appreciate you for the actions you have taken as CoE and PM.

I wish you and Sarah well, and hope to see you up here in Fife enjoying yourselves with your family.

Again I'm not a Labour voter, but I have long respected Gordon Brown as a politician and person.

I agree that he will be remembered not just as a great politician but as a good man who worked hard to make what he believed in happen.

I wish the Brown family well for the future and think that they can be proud of the contribution they have made to making our country a better place.

In tears reading this. Echo all that has been said, a truly good and honourable man who won my trust. The integrity with which you have led will hopefully serve as a lasting legacy and a lesson to many.

Wishing peace and calm to you and your family.

I have a lot of respect for Gordon Brown as well. I think it is very sad to see an experienced politician such has himself go.

Integrity is a scarce quality nowadays and I for one will really miss that side of politics.

I wish Gordon Brown to stay true to himself hope he will get a more rewarding future.