36 replies to this topic

[DaveBond21]

Today (27th June), Britain has a new Prime Minister, the Scotsman Gordon Brown becomes PM.

He will be only the 4th PM since 1979. He has 2 years at least before the next General Election to win back the respect of the British people.


Any thoughts?

[Tarl_Cabot]

Good luck mate.And don't take any crap from Iran again.

[Byron]

Today (27th June), Britain has a new Prime Minister, the Scotsman Gordon Brown becomes PM.

He will be only the 4th PM since 1979. He has 2 years at least before the next General Election to win back the respect of the British people.


Any thoughts?

I think Brown was handed a poison chalice, much like that youngish, baldish, Conservative opposition leader (the one Thatcher endorsed) a few years back. The only way i see Brown possibly winning would be if he withdraws all UK forces from Iraq immediately.

As for Blair, although i hoped to see and hear the last of him, it appears that there is a push by certain quarters (Bush & Co) to make him "special PEACE envoy to the Middle East" or some such ridiculous gravy train job!

This is the irony to end all ironies - a man that brought war to the Middle East being appointed as an envoy for peace by another man of war.

All this just points out, that western governments are corrupt, nepotistic and totally oblivious of public opinion. It has probably always been like that, but where once unethical / immoral behavior spelt the end for politicians it is know being accepted either tacitly or outright. Except for people with critical thinking skills, the general public has also been conditioned to accept it.

Edited by Byron, 27 June 2007 - 02:41 AM.

[Royal Dalton]

What Byron said.

[DaveBond21]

Good point, Byron.

Whether or not Brown will win an Election in 2009 is debatable - however - have you seen the opposition leader, David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party?

He was the one who said he was being environmentally-friendly by riding a bike to work, only for it to be discovered that the car behind him was taking all his stuff to work!!!

And he also said the way to cut down the number of gangs in Britain, was to go up to them and give them a hug. He claims criminals in Britain just need love!!!!!!!

[Byron]

Good point, Byron.

Whether or not Brown will win an Election in 2009 is debatable - however - have you seen the opposition leader, David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party?

He was the one who said he was being environmentally-friendly by riding a bike to work, only for it to be discovered that the car behind him was taking all his stuff to work!!!

And he also said the way to cut down the number of gangs in Britain, was to go up to them and give them a hug. He claims criminals in Britain just need love!!!!!!!

Thanks Royal Dalton and DaveBond.

Funny (although almost semi tragic) points about Cameron's actions and viewpoints.

[Santa]

That's funny, I don't remember anyone electing Gordon Brown...

[Bondian]

Blair was nicknamed "Bush's Poodle". I wonder what they'll nickname Brown.

Maybe "Bush's Prime Brown".

[Sigma7]

" Gordon Brown, texture like sun............never a frown with Gordon Brown"

[Safari Suit]

" Gordon Brown, texture like sun............never a frown with Gordon Brown"

Glad to know I'm not the only one who is often reminded of that seminal dirge upon hearing the man's name

I will not prematurely judge Brown's leadership, although he has something of an uphill battle facing him. Not only with the issues left unresolved from the Blair administration, but also what I perceive to be a lack of telegenic qualities, something which, like it or not, is becoming increasingly important in modern politics. Plus, whatever one may think of Cameron's leadership, the Conservatives are currently enjoying more success and an arguably higher profile than they have had since their electoral defeat ten years ago, although I have to wonder about their competence and the coherence of their agenda after the incident with Davies.

[DamnCoffee]

Was he the one who was banging his Secretary?? Forgive me, i know i live in england but i get them mixed up. . But I'm not keen on him, but I'll do exactly what i did with Craig - I'll give him a chance.

[Safari Suit]

Was he the one who was banging his Secretary??

That was John Prescott

[DamnCoffee]

Ah Thanks! lol, i always get the two mixed up, for some reason

[Keir]

Certainly a poisoned chalice. I condemn Blair's rush to war, but his Party was more concerned with winning seats in Parliament than having their consciences get in the way. I can't see Brown's ascension make people forget the crimes his party committed.

[ACE]

PMQ's - makes one proud to be British!

[Loomis]

Was he the one who was banging his Secretary?? Forgive me, i know i live in england but i get them mixed up. . But I'm not keen on him, but I'll do exactly what i did with Craig - I'll give him a chance.

Gordon Brown - the Daniel Craig of British politics.

[Loomis]

All this just points out, that western governments are corrupt, nepotistic and totally oblivious of public opinion. It has probably always been like that, but where once unethical / immoral behavior spelt the end for politicians it is know being accepted either tacitly or outright.

Yep. There was an unprecedented brazenness to the Blair era. Then again, I guess we have a slightly freer media than in the "good old days" when journalists would never dream of asking politicians awkward questions.

It seems there will be a general election next year. Who do you think will win? Personally, I'd vote for neither Brown nor Cameron, but I'm blowed if I can foresee a victor at this point.

[Byron]

All this just points out, that western governments are corrupt, nepotistic and totally oblivious of public opinion. It has probably always been like that, but where once unethical / immoral behavior spelt the end for politicians it is know being accepted either tacitly or outright.

Yep. There was an unprecedented brazenness to the Blair era. Then again, I guess we have a slightly freer media than in the "good old days" when journalists would never dream of asking politicians awkward questions.

It seems there will be a general election next year. Who do you think will win? Personally, I'd vote for neither Brown nor Cameron, but I'm blowed if I can foresee a victor at this point.

My dream come true would be a hung parliament with the Lib Dems holding the balance of power (short of an outright Lib Dem victory).

Brown should seriously push the long forgotten Labour promise of proportional representation (PR). Democracy in the UK needs PR as badly as Bond fans needed Dalton after Moore - vital to breathe fresh life into a tired old formula.

Edited by Byron, 27 June 2007 - 12:55 PM.

[Royal Dalton]

I like your style, Byron.

I can't see Brown losing the next election. Cameron's too much of a lightweight compared to him.

It'll probably be a much closer result than before, though.

[Kilroy6644]

All this just points out, that western governments are corrupt, nepotistic and totally oblivious of public opinion.

Fixed that for you. No need to limit yourself to the West.

[Royal Dalton]

Yep. Power corrupts, and absolute power, etc, etc...

[DaveBond21]

Watched it all live on TV last night on Sky UK, BBC World and CNN. It was interesting to watch Blair get a standing ovation as he left the House of Commons for the last time. It's not often a leaving PM gets a send-off like that.

It was strange to see a new face as PM at Number 10 too, after Brown's presence with the Queen.

[Vauxhall]

I too watched it all Dave, and it was certainly a strange procedure. Very different to the type of leadership transition that one usually finds after a general election victory. The media almost seemed confused about what tone to adopt - celebratory or serious? In the end, they maintained a good balance of both I thought. Huge scrutiny of Brown in the future for sure, but while I have never really been his biggest fan, my personal feeling was one of a sense of wondering what is coming next. I felt the country was passing out of the hands of a leader who, despite political differences, knew what he was doing. Gordon Brown does not strike the same sort of confidence in me as Tony Blair did, but I am willing to give him time to prove himself. In this case, a very overused cliche is appropriate - it certainly is "the end of an era" in the UK.

[DaveBond21]

I agree, Vauxhall. It is the end of an era. It is almost as if things have gone back to 1996, and we have an old-fashioned Prime Minister again.

This is kind of what Britain needs at the moment, and so it will be interesting to see what Brown's new cabinet is like, and new policies. I am not a big fan of David Cameron as the opposition leader. I think the Torys should have gone with David Davis.

[Royal Dalton]

Blair's been questioned by the Old Bill, again, over cash-for-honours.

"Take the prisoner down."

[Santa]

At the very least, Brown's wife must be a hell of a lot better for Britain than bloody Cherie Blair.

[Royal Dalton]

Brown's wife seems like a very nice person.

She can't be any worse than that gobby attention-seeker Cherie, anyway.

[DaveBond21]

She seems shy and down-to-earth, and looked quite uncomfortable in front of the cameras outside Number 10, not unlike Gordon himself!!

I think that will have to change, I mean she is going to be meeting Laura Bush at some point.

[Santa]

I admit, I underestimated Gordon Brown already - his cabinet shuffle looks very...interesting. In a good way.

[bondjohnbond]

Brown's wife seems like a very nice person.

She can't be any worse than that gobby attention-seeker Cherie, anyway.

Don't you mean the money-grabbing gold-digging self serving Cherie Blair?

She seems shy and down-to-earth, and looked quite uncomfortable in front of the cameras outside Number 10, not unlike Gordon himself!!

I think that will have to change, I mean she is going to be meeting Laura Bush at some point.

Well indeed, they have had their share of tragedy which means they are more likely to know what is important in the world and hopefully, bombing other countries in order to give the yankls free monopoly on the oil isn't one of them.

Edited by bondjohnbond, 29 June 2007 - 12:37 PM.