Am sorry to hear about a death. I feel sorry for Gordon Brown because even though he doesn't share my views on politics - I do believe he is as honest as you'd get in a politician. I feel he has seriously misjudged not only labour voters but the people in his home country.

He robbed people of their pensions, for years and robbed the most vulnerable in society, with the ten percent tax whiz. Now he is going to throw taxpayers' money around like confetti, to all and sundry, to try and save his skin.

If that is 'honest' I hate to see a truly dishonest politician

Anya wrote:He robbed people of their pensions, for years and robbed the most vulnerable in society, with the ten percent tax whiz. Now he is going to throw taxpayers' money around like confetti, to all and sundry, to try and save his skin.

If that is 'honest' I hate to see a truly dishonest politician

I'll start the list

Jonathan Aitken
Neil Hamilton
Jeffery Archer
Peter Mandelson

I agree Anya, and since he became a father, he's compelled to keep handing out cash to others with children (latest idea is £150 fuel allowance), trouble is most of the recipients have NEVER put anything into the system and probably never will

Therein lies the problem - too many people receiving benefits and too little paying into the benefits system. The welfare state was a wonderful idea but like communist - has proved to be no good in practice. There is no doubt that we need a system that will ensure no-one goes hungry, or without medica and dental care but it really does have to be looked at again.

Too bliddy true Rowan, but sadly it will be too complicated, too unpopular and too expensive to come up with a FAIR system