Gordon Brown's election u-turn - readers' reactions

Gordon Brown (Image © Gareth Fuller/WPA Rota/PA Wire)
The dramatic u-turn at the weekend came as quite a shock to most people and as a disappointment to many, who felt that it was the perfect time for a general election.  The Prime Minister has confirmed that he considered holding a snap election but said he wanted "more time to set out my vision for the future of the country". There have been accusations from the Conservatives that he is running scared and that the u-turn came about because the polls weren’t telling the PM quite what he wanted to hear.
A recent MSN poll found that out of 472 people who voted, 62% thought that Brown had bottled the election and was running scared. Tory leader David Cameron accused Brown of treating the British public like’ fools’ and judging by the debate that has been raging on MSN’s message boards, a number of you agree. But, as always, the boards offered a range of opinion on whether Brown was right or wrong to decide against a snap general election.
MSN Poll (Image © MSN)

There was an element of anger among certain quarters of the MSN audience, with people feeling they had been cheated out of the opportunity to cast their vote. Willy W said: “Did any of you really think that after waiting 10 years to get rid of Blair that he was going to take a gamble and risk losing it before he'd had another go at picking our pockets yet again?”

The Cornishman seemed equally as upset, saying: “Brown is no different to Blair - an opportunist with only one objective - to stay in power. So much for the good of the country. God help us.”

Perhaps best summing up the anti-Brown feeling on the boards was Claire Lex, who said: “Shocking. Truly shocking. When I heard that after everything had been geared up for an election seedily rushed because Gordon thought he had an advantage, then cancelled because he got scared, I thought it was despicable.”

Even among Labour supporters there was some dismay. Red Rose of Merseyside said: “I am a true Labour voter yet Brown has made a fatal error here. This shows exactly why voting numbers are dwindling year after year. Voters are fed up with boring politicians who aren't prepared to take risks. We lived through safe politics with Blair for 10 years and I for one do not want the same again.”

Gordon Brown (Image © Steve Reigate/The Daily Express/NPA Rota/PA)

But it didn’t all make such grim reading for the PM. A number of message board users felt that Brown was perfectly within his rights to consider calling an election and then decide better of it. Chantelle96 said: “I am glad that Brown isn't calling an election.  I think that we should see if he is capable of the things that he says he is going to do.  Vote him out if he doesn't deliver.”

Echoing those sentiments, Charlees Aunt said: “Let's hang on in there with Gordy - better the devil you know.... I want to see what he's made of - too early for an election.”

David Cameron came under fire from some Brown supporters, one of whom said: “It was all moonshine by Cameron as he desperately tried to prevent an election being called. He has succeeded in stopping an autumn election because that was his intention at Blackpool. There is no need for an election as Labour have a very comfortable majority with another two and a half years to go.”
Others were quick to praise Brown, with his recent actions being described as ‘a textbook piece of politics’ and Raymondo 34 saying: “Well done Gordon, you've caught the Tories out. Expecting an election they have quickly thrown some ridiculous "gimmicks" together to catch votes. Now you can take them apart. 2009 will be another clean sweep for New Labour.”
Gordon Brown (Image © Steve Reigate/The Daily Express/NPA Rota/PA)
As usual the boards were full of colourful observations on the topic but one poster deserves a special mention, having seemingly re-written the lyrics to the 1976 hit ‘Don’t Cry for me Argentina’ to relate to the current political climate. Jon001, we salute you.

Jon001:
“Oh what a circus, oh what a show
Fat Jock wouldn't go to the crowd
'cause Callmedave's margin's beginning to grow
and Jock might lose it.

“So now he's got just a couple of years to implement boy Dave's ideas
and call them his own - brag how well he's done -and we'll believe it
Forgetting the years of electorate’s tears he may win again in style
but if it goes wrong the feeling is strong Callmedave could then win by a mile. 
(Chorus)
“Don't cry for Callmedave's comeback, the truth is there's nowt left to sp-iiin.
Ten years of that has come home to roost and he knew that he couldn't win.”

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Brown's election u-turn: have your say

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In pictures: Gordon Brown

Click thumbnail to enlarge - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks with the media after talking to local farmers at the Regional Disease Control Centre in Reigate, Surrey, following the outbreak of foot and mouth in the county.Click thumbnail to enlarge - Great Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a visit to the Weymouth and Portland National sailing academy in Portland, Dorset.Click thumbnail to enlarge - Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a visit to meet emergency teams at the council offices in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.Click thumbnail to enlarge - Prime Minister Gordon Brown during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London.Click thumbnail to enlarge - Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks during his first regular press conference as Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, London.
Click thumbnail to enlarge - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown attends the first meeting of the National Council for Educational Excellence at Morpeth Secondary School in East London.Click thumbnail to enlarge - Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a visit to Calvert Lane Fire Station in Hull Click thumbnail to enlarge - Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London.Click thumbnail to enlarge - Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosts a breakfast meeting on the Welfare Green Paper at Downing Street in London.Click thumbnail to enlarge - Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaking at a Labour Party fund raising dinner, held at Wembley Stadium in London.