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.'

Right, well if Sarah Brown does read this:-

WELL DONE Missus! You were and continue to be a credit to your self and your family! As PM's wives go, you're my favourite!

To Mr Brown - I thought your handling and Mr Darling's handling of the immediate crisis after the banks buggered it up, was brilliant!

Labour not really my party but credit where credit is due - you done good there!

He's the last Prime Minister we've seen that comes from a 'normal' (financially modest) background - I think that counts for a lot.

We've all conveniently forgotten how awful the NHS used to be. Consultants were paid to work full-time, yet could dictate the NHS hours that they worked and do as much private work as they liked. New labour changed that. Consultnats now must work a full week before they can do private work. New labour have brought timescales to expediate patient treatment, ensuring NHS staff actually work hard. As a government organisation, there's always going to be a lot wrong with the NHS, but my doctor DH believes Labour worked hard to make sure the NHS worked hard for patients.

I loved the way GB shunned sleb cutlure and slogged away at being chancellor and PM.

DH had to show GB around his cardiology theatre last year and was so impressed by his stature. 'A hugely serious, dedicated guy'.

Have fun with Sarah and your boys. My top tip? Don't be like my mum. She thought that, at age 12, an excellent birthday present was some biography of Keir Hardie.......... There can be a life without politics............

When Donald Dewar died, he was hugely mourned. GB's resignation evokes the same sadness.

Dear Prime Minister.

When you took over from Blair I wasn't an immediate fan of yours. However, I think you presided over an enormously difficult time for Britain, and I think you steered us through very choppy waters so that we emerged relatively unscathed. I think most people in the position you found yourself in would have done a worse job.

For what it's worth, my turning point on you was when there was that media furore about you misspelling the family name of that soldier who died in a letter you handwrote. I was blown away that someone as busy as you, with the physical obstacles you overcome daily (in fact until that day I didn't know about them, so good is your overcoming of them) still took the time to personally handwrite those letters.

I think you're a good man with a strong moral compass, and I think you've been a good, upright, strong and measured Prime Minister. I think you're honest, I think you're experienced, I think twice now you have put your party and your country above your own agenda and I will be sorry to see you go. The prospect of DC in your shoes would be laughable, were it not so terrible.

So - for all the things you have done for this country, seen and unseen, I would just like to say thank you. I wish you could have stayed longer.

To Sarah - enjoy having your husband back!

Highlander used the phrase that was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't quite find

yes, GB is a slogger! that's what I wanted to say

Oh, and btw, my dad is a die-hard conservative/Republican voter in the US, and he was here visiting when you misspelled that soldier's name in that letter to his mother, but he was impressed how you handled it. You apologised. That should have been the last of it. He was appalled it turned out otherwise. He said he'd have felt so honoured to get a handwritten letter from The President and that was really kind of you to have done so and taken time out of your busy schedule to write that.

Dear GB, I'm sorry to see you go. I'm sad you weren't able to be PM longer.

Yes, she was a bigot - that made me laugh.

Good luck with the future.

Best of luck Gordon. I know you really did do your utmost. I'll miss you.

Litchick wrote "You were right to resign.

You don't believe in PR and have always been very clear on this.
To offer it to retain power would have stuck in your throat I'm sure.
Your convictions are what make you stand out and opposition to PR was one of those convictions.

Good luck."

I second that. Now make the most of your chance to spend more time with your family - before you know it your DC will be grown and gone.

Dear Mr Brown I just wanted to add that I too will miss you and think that you did a very good job in very difficult circumstances.

If I was Mrs Brown I would be hugely relieved that you will no longer be subjected to the kind of abuse that you have experienced in recent times.

I too wish you the very best of luck for the future

Oh what a lovely thread, for a change!

Dear Gordon,

I think that you have come out of this with tremendous dignity and integrity, in what must have seemed like a relentless hate campaign against you at times.

Good luck with whatever happens next.

Oh and if you happen to continue to have anything at all to do with education, can you please, please push the focus on CVA scores!

Mr Brown, I want to thank you for the good you have done for our Country and wish you and your family well.

Kerry

Oh look, flying pigs...!!!

Gordon- Fab Chancellor & PM. I wouldn't have coped as a single parent without Tax credits so Thank you.
Enjoy the extra time you have for Sarah & the boys rather than mourning the loss of PM.

I too am in tears reading this

I will be sad to see you go Gordon, and agree with all the other comments on here praising you and your dignity.

Thank you and Labour for all you have done for our country.

Is this a joke thread?

Fantastic post
Mr and Mrs Brown,
Thank you for the time and the dedication you have shown in serving the public. My family have been lifted from poverty by you and your government. I was a single mother under the Tories, drowning in debt. Now in this recession even with my husband out of work we are keeping our heads above water and that's thanks to you.
Thank you for the Sure Start initiative, my three year old loves Messy Play on a Thursday. Thank you for the education fund that ensures my children don't go without school trips and afterschool clubs even though we are on benefits. Thank you for the winter fuel payments that saw us through the cold weather.
Thank you for your selflessness and your moral convictions. Thank you Mrs Brown and your DCs for sharing your husband with us and being so gracious in the face of such vitriol. Enjoy your life together.
History will be kinder than the present. Good luck

Mr Brown,
I too would like to agree whole heartedly with what has been echoed by others here - you have been a fantastic PM - a great leader, a good man.

You led with integrity, passion and intelligence - directed by a wonderful, strong moral compass.

Your work as the Chancellor and PM and the policies and changes that have been implemented have supported my family endlessly in so many ways and for that I am eternally grateful.

You should be walking proud...

Enjoy your time with your family

Gordon Brown is probably one of the only genuine people in politics. x

I had to fight back tears this morning (in a cafe ) reading the newspaper.

You should be so proud

Have a wonderful life after politics.

Great thread.

Mr Brown, you've done your best in a difficult job. I like your ethos and respect the unspun way you come across.

Good luck in the future and best wishes for your family.

Good luck.

Thank you for the changes you brought that made Britain a far better place to bring up my children. I'm old enough to remember it being very different.

I'm so sad about how this has ended, and am angry about the right-wing media. History won't remember the horrible little trolls. Though perhaps this isn't the place for such musings.

Have a wonderful life.

Good luck in your new quieter life. Enjoy the time you will have with your lovely family. You have been a true and genuine politician and you will be sorely missed.