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.'

If Sarah does read this......please say thank you to Gordon from me. A genuine, from the heart thank you.

Hell, I'm about to blubb again!

Yes - she was a bigot - and I vote Tory !

There have been many tears here in the expat house tonight.

Dignity, integrity, passion and conviction - what more could we want from our Prime Minister?

I echo what everyone else has said - you are, and always have been, an outstanding public servant.

Thank you

Thank you. Thank you for putting public service before personal profit. Thank you for being real.

I'm devastated that you're going.

Gordon,

My husband knew you back in his days as an economics journalist and was on one of tv target teams back in 1997. He spoke then, as he always has, of your friendliness, humility and decency.

The chalice you were handed was truly poisoned and I'm sure the decision to not call a snap election is one you may dwell on for decades to come.

I wish you and your family some peace now, away from the madness of Downing Street.

Mr Brown - thanks for trying to save us all and make life a bit fairer for everyone. Genuinely sorry that you're going - please enjoy your time with your family..you've earned it.

A million times the integrity of the Camorons and non of the vanity.

You will be missed in this home (where my family are strong and my society not broken)

I hope he gets to read this

I voted SNP for the last few years.

Gordon Brown was the reason I voted Labour again.

The only politician with genuine principles we have at the moment.

Interesting point, Ninja. And DC is going to sort out discipline in schools... With a big fat Tory cane?
And CTFs, paternity leave, extended maternity leave have all really helped my family be strong. Are they all going to disappear now?
So, don't really want to be insulted but expect The Daily Mail will be orgasmic in the morning...
Good luck to Samantha for your pregnancy.

Mr Brown and family

Thank you for all you have done for this country. I really don't know how you managed to deal with the onslaught from the press and the intrusion that the PM job brings. I am very worried about the changes that the new government will introduce and I think people will realise soon what a terrible mistake they have made in voting the Tories back to power (even though most of them didn't...). I believe we have lost a PM with a strong moral compass who genuinely wanted to do the right thing for this country. You have been very dignified over the last few days and I think your speech today was brilliant.

I hope you manage to get some rest and time together as a family. Your boys look lovely.

I always admired your strength. How you got up in the mornings and went to work and rose above the hounding and slagging doled out to you by the press, I'll never know.

I hope you have many happy peaceful years ahead of you with your lovely wife and children.

Good luck.

expat there have been tears here as well. Am in despair for the country.

However, I would like to echo what others have said. Mr Brown, you are a man of integrity and dignity. I have respect for you and what you stood for. (Yes I voted for you). I am saddened that the country is now out of your hands.

The speech you gave at Labour HQ was clearly genuine and very moving.

However, I would like to wish you, your wife and your beautiful sons happiness and success in the future. Also in the short term a good rest.

You did the best you could and that is all anyone could ask of you.

Dear Gordon,

I am sorry that everything has come to an end in this way for you. I did not vote for you in this election but as others have said, I have always admired your honesty and integrity. You always came across as a very nice and genuine man and I personally think that your 'unease' on camera was always part of your charm

On a note of support, I speak for many others when I say how sick we are getting of the media trying to shape and determine our views on life. I hope that you can get away from it all now and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Oh and do you remember that dreadful Pratt woman from the National Bullying Helpline? Well I walk past her almost every morning and I can tell you that she aint looking so 'cock a hoop' now. Wild hair, dishevelled clothing, lipstick running into the creases of her mouth. What goes around comes around eh?

I wept watching your resignation speech. So truly dignified and generous. I'm frightened about what will happen next to this country, and only wish it could still be you to lead it.

As a nation, I think we'll regret last Thursday for years to come.

Thank you for all you did for the ordinary folk. I'm amazed at what you manage to achieve in 13 years.

Wishing you a long and happy summer with your family. All the best.

What a lovely thread, and I really hope Gordon and Sarah get to read it.

Mr Brown, I want to thank you for the hardwork and dedication you have given our country over the last 13 years. You will be remembered as a man of integrity, who was honest, and genuine and did his best for the people of Britain.
I think you have done a wonderful job over the duration of the Labour Government, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for us.
I have been in tears since watching your resignation speech, it is a sad sad day, I have lived my whole adult life under the Labour government and I am very sad to see it end.
Mr Brown, you are a man of interity, and honesty who stood up for what he belives in, you heart is in the right place. I only hope that at some point in the future we may see another politician with such great beliefs, values and integrity.
Enjoy your beautiful family, and rest easy knowing that you really did do everything in your power to do the best by the people of Britain, and for that, we are grateful.
You will be sorely missed.

A really good and decent man.

Sarah, if you're lurking, loved your dress today. Looked fab. Sorry if that's a bit trite.

Oh and your boys are absolutely gorgeous!

I'm very sorry to see GB go, I think he was prime minister in the wrong century. Today's politics is all about looking good and getting the spin right rather than integrity and dedication.

I wish you well in the future. I admired your integrity and that it seemed that you did not have "sides" to your personality. You were as we saw you, and you believed in all that you did. Thank you for your dedicated public service. Thank you for standing above the current obsession with private lives and keeping your beautiful children out of the picture until our glimpse of them tonight. You and your wife demonstrated great dignity and gave me an unexpected feeling when I watched your speech - I felt proud to be British.

I'm also sorry to see you go Mr Brown. You have helped my family in many ways.
Best of wishes to you and your family.

I can't better the posts already written, but would like to add my gratitude and admiration, for all your hard work and obvious integrity, and my good wishes for the future.

What can I say. I'm not from Britain. I lived in the UK from 1999 to 2007 and I saw it changing into a better, wealthier place.
I like Mr Brown a lot. I wish politicians in my own country had just 1/1000000000 of Mr Brown's moral compass.

I agree that he was a genuine person.

He's handled this situation with such dignity.

Sarah, if you are reading, I remember being VERY moved by Gordon's speech at Sheila McKechnie's memorial service. It was a beautiful tribute to someone who always fought for social justice - from another of the same ilk.

Oh, and I agree about the fab dress today, btw!