Joining Adam on this week's show - the Prime Minister AND Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond.

Mr. Brown will be telling Adam about his plans for the Labour Party after the bloodbath of the local elections this week.

Mr. Salmond is celebrating a year in the job and with the SNP leading the Labour party in the polls north of the border - he may just have a few tips for his fellow Scot, Mr. Brown.

Reviewing the Sunday papers - The MP for Hackney, Diane Abbott and the novelist, journalist and sister of Boris, Rachel Johnson.

And hunting for the world's most wanted man. Adam will be talking to the American documentary maker Morgan Spurlock about his latest film Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?

To read a digest of this week's programme, and watch some of Adam's Sunday Live interviews click on this link.

Comments

[Victor, NW Kent 6 May 2008 13:37:53]

Dear Adam

I hope that the extraordinary response to your show this Sunday will not encourage you to invite any other shouting bullies to take part. Once was more than enough.

[G.Smith St.Annes 5 May 2008 23:29:41]

'Brown starts the fightback' - doing TV interviews just after Labour had been given a good kicking in the local elections wasn't really the cleverest thing to do, he should have kept quiet and out of the spotlight. The arrogance of guy, the contemp he shows for the electorate, as he continues with the idea he has that he knows what's best for us. He says it's his job to 'listen and lead', but he's obviously not listening and nobody in their right mind believes he'll lead to anything other than more disaster. He's taxed everything that moves and wasted it. We have more unnecessary bureaucracy and civil servants to satisfy the whims of this target driven, statistically controlled nanny state government. They cost us all a lot but produce nothing of value. The sooner we get a government who doesn't think they should dictate what's best for us the better.

[neither/niether 5 May 2008 20:40:52]

Rae,
In the past I enjoyed private medical treatment, in national health hospitals where possible. This put money into there funds rather than take it out.
Anybody who went private was unblocking the waiting list of the NHS.
Thanks to this goverment I can't afford the insurance premiums any longer..
But im not really bothered because, I can still get private medical free! "on the NHS" as this goverment has allowed or should I say told, trusts to use private hospitals.

After 10 years of income from unpresidented world growth, and down right robbery in stealth taxes, you would expect them to have "bought" 2 extra terms
by investing money into public services.

With good housekeeping and use of the extra income, the price of our gas and oil has swelled the goverments money pot. Taxes on fuel can be reduced.

You are presuming if taxes were reduced, people would increase their mileage.
Ever thought that it would give the people more chance of clearing some debt and possibly put money into savings again.

People saving, would put tax into the goverments coffers. Extra savings would also cut the amount paid out on means tested benifits.

The goverment would be able to reduce more taxes, and create natural growth. Public services wouldn't have to be cut... as you and this goverment forever frighten the public about.

[Bruce Hulmes 5 May 2008 19:03:16]

Rae.
The government can cut tax or did moses have it chipped in stone. What they raise they can lower.

Why do you and your equally silly Labour followers only ever mention the NHS when it comes to tax.
Other countries have health services every bit as good if not better then ours.
And their fuel prices are lower, the difference Rae is they do not waste hundreds of billions on illegal wars, feeding every foreigner and providing welfare and medical care for every man woman and their dog that makes it to this country.
Further they do not pay billions in legal aid to asylum seekers, illegal immigrants and criminals in general.
Further they do not maintain the families of terrorist.
Further they do not encourage single mothers with benefits and free housing.
Further they will not spend a billion kicking out illegal immigrants, they just put them out.
Further they do not send child allowance to Poland.
Further they do not allowe people with TB and AIDS in to bleed their medical services.

Try putting a stop to the above and seE how much you could knock of the fuel price.
And on dying in the NHS I have a good chance of dying in the queue behind all those foreigners, waiting to be treated for that dose of none-treatable TB some immigrant has had the good fortune to breath all over me.

You want to save money come to me.

[carol-ann livepool 5 May 2008 18:58:55]

Madnurse

Well I am quite surprised at the behaviour of Diane Abbot as she seems to come across quite quiet and reserved on The Politics Show and is often scathing about 'new labour'. It is often what she doesn't say than what she does say on that programme that leaves a lot to the imagination.
Perhaps she did have some mitigating circumstances to take into account, given the trauma she had just endured following the local and Mayor's election!

However, it is quite threatening to many people to have their personal space breeched by someone who isn't a close friend or family member and I am surprised given her experience with the public, she doesn't realise that.

[Victor, NW Kent 5 May 2008 18:52:19]

Bruce is right and Rae/Craig is wrong. We now have the most expensive fuel in the world and 70% of the pump price goes to the government.

This is a spendthrift government and it is patently absurd to say that the NHS could not be successfully run without caning our road transport industry out of existence. National insurance take has more than doubled under New Labour - which is now old, tired Labour.

Fuel price increases are directly inflationary and, once again, punish those who can least afford to pay.

[E Welshman 5 May 2008 18:24:18]

I cannot say anything either in support or against what Diane Abbot said - because I missed the first hour of Sunday Live (sorry, Adam!

Carol-Ann

Seems to be a trait - this selective not hearing what they don't want to hear amongst NuLabourites.

Hoon did exactly the same on election night.

[Rae 5 May 2008 16:25:21]

On the cost of a barrel of crude he may have little influence on the cost of a gallon of petrol he has plenty of influence remember this little luxury is double taxed, Tax and VAT so face some undigestable facts.

Bruce

Waken up and listen to what Craig satates. Look at your statement above. It is a nonsense. Are you saying that Cameron will cut tax on fuel. Tell us this rvelation now. The last I heard they wanted to increase taxation on fue to show their green credentials. Do you really think that he will cut fuel tax. Tell us how if we cut this tax and that tax how w ecan improve public services. Do you want to see NHS waiting lists rise again to the poit where you are dead before you are treated. Can you afford to go private and not bother about everybodyelse.

[Madnurse 5 May 2008 14:58:52]

Carol-Ann:

Glad to see the length of your postings increasing which suggests you are on the road to recovery from your bout of Pneumonia. Welcome Back!

Ms Abbot did not actually say anything controversial per se.

What she did do was, constantly interupt and shout down any effort to debate by Ms Johnson. She came across as a well balanced bully; well balanced because she appeared to have a chip on both shoulders!!

Ms Abbot's body language was very confrontational...Head lifted high, slightly leaning forward to over power Ms Johnson. She put her hand up as if to say "Talk to the hand" (I think that is the modern expression)
She grabbed both Adam's and Rachaels hands at one point, which from my training, signifies attemps to gain power and control over her adversary etc etc.

This behaviour continued throughout the interview and even our Adam allowed himself to be shouted down and bullied by Ms Abbot.

This type of behaviour is not only restricted to Ms Abbot in public life, as I have seen similar bullying tactics used on Question Time by many guests, normally when they have little to say in reality, Ms Flint is a prime example in my opinion.

Hope this helps Carol-Ann and once again, good to see you back!!

[carol-ann liverpool 5 May 2008 14:18:18]

Madnurse

I cannot say anything either in support or against what Diane Abbot said - because I missed the first hour of Sunday Live (sorry, Adam!)

So will would you kindly tell me what she said that is so controversial?

[Madnurse 5 May 2008 12:50:02]

Adam:

I cannot remember a previous Sunday Live thread with so many responses, many of the responses are not from regulors of this blog which suggests, the programme has got people thinking.
In my opinion, new blood on your blog is likely to be a refreshing change.

I notice that many of the posting on this thread, rightly criticise Ms Abbot. Is it possible for you to show Ms Abbot our responses and invite her to comment on these postings or to try to defend her tactics on Sunday?

It would make good reading for many of us and perhaps give some insight into how her mind works!!

I notice that even the "usual suspects" on here that are very pro Labour have not defended her behaviour so it must have been bad. Lol

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 May 2008 12:09:02]

It appears the "fat government" have sung!
To quote Boris "Have I got news for you"... Conservatives are in Labour are out, say no more.

[Steve 5 May 2008 11:50:14]

Hi Carole Anne,

Puzzled? ..you? ..who'da thought it?!

[Dave, Blackburn 5 May 2008 11:43:09]

Hi Nucon Bloggers!

What I am a bit puzzled about is why - when you should be cock-a-hoop that there are so many more Conservative councillors and a Conservative Mayor - you are so bitter and feel the need to attack me - shouldn't you all be magnanimous in victory?

Why should you be bothered what I say when it hasn't made any difference to any voters, according to your analysis?

Lighten up, guys, you are supposed to be H.A.P.P.Y.

Posted by: carol-ann liverpool 5 May 2008 10:34:01

Easy...we're enjoying it!!!
Pls don't pap on about being magnanimous in 'victory'. After all the bile & vitriole thrown in non labour bloggers faces, pls let us enjoy our moment! Brown is a complete waste of space...we all know it!
Start practising what you now preach....there's a good girl.

[Bruce Hulmes 5 May 2008 11:35:15]

Carol Ann.
Further to my last post.
The bit where you mention protesters, are they the usual paid up members of the Labour party, who appear when called, there first apearance
was outside No 10 in 1997 if you remember.

Hitler (as did most dictators through history)used rent a mobs in the 1930s.
so we can take it you agree with mob rule as long as the mob are not demonstrating outside Parliment against this government.
What would your thoughts be if the BNP were demonstrating outside a Labour party meeting, would they be so forgiving?.

[Bruce Hulmes 5 May 2008 11:20:20]

Craig.
You are the prime example of what is wrong with most Labour voters no touch with reality and ignore the uncomfortable truths.

On 42 days the people do not care if these people are locked up for ever on bread and water in a cell with the toilet pointing East.

On the media why should they be bothered to concentrate on the opposition when the government hand them so much more news worthy items of ineption,corruption,plain stupidity and arrogance.

Again we have a lABOURITE mentioning the global economy well Brown told us everyday and 10 times at each PMQ over the last ten years that HE alone had defeated bust for ever,do you remember?.
Everyone outside Labour knew he was talking rubbish but prudence knew it all, just like he does every issue on the planet.
On the cost of a barrel of crude he may have little influence on the cost of a gallon of petrol he has plenty of influence remember this little luxury is double taxed, Tax and VAT so face some undigestable facts.
On other fuels such as gas and electricity he as allowed our power companies to be bought by foriegn companies who charge us more then their domestic customers and all with the backing of Labour no MPs kicking up a fuss is there because the people are not to notice what is happening in rip off UK/Labour.

[Bruce Hulmes 5 May 2008 11:01:45]

Carol Ann.

So Livingstone got more votes and lost so it should be pretty plain to a university educated person that the turn out was greater then last time.
Now there was a substantial number of voters who never gave Labour their vote in the last general election, what does your logic make of that!!!.
And that bit about Boris having to listen to minorites, well it is about time we had some politicians who stopped listening to the ever more demanding demands of people who came hear and can go just as easily. And are you insinuating that if Boris ignores these ever more demanding people trouble is on the way,rivers of blood say!!.
It was not just the 10p tax farce that lost Labour votes but a long list of issues and ignoring the English was one of them.
By the way no media coverage of the BNP in this land of freedom 100 councillors if I was Brown I would stop feeding them oxygen.

[Bruce Hulmes 5 May 2008 10:46:55]

WENDY ALEXANDER says she is ready to call the SNPs bluff and go for a vote on Scottish Indenpence. BROWN is not so sure!!!! so ditherer, dithers as the UK burns, who said history repeats its self.

[Jane, Cambridgeshire 5 May 2008 10:44:41]

I can't believe all the claptrap spouted by Brown and now Bradshaw - so they're "listening" now are they? What the hell have they been doing for the last 11 years then? Treating us with utter contempt as per usual. MP's expenses are a prime example of this. I am soooooo sick of being patronised, preached at, lectured and nagged about everything (food, drink, cars, rubbish etc) and then being taxed, fined, punished and penalised by stealth taxes on anything and everything they can think of. The 10p tax issue is just the tip of the iceberg and to try and correct this mistake through the tax credits system (system? it's a fiasco) is just another bureaucratic nightmare. It should be possible to work out a simple straightforward system of tax bands based on personal allowances in proportion to income. But tax is just one bone of contention with this government - when are they actually going to get 'tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime' then? The justice system is a joke. Easier to find a prison cell for an OAP who can't pay exorbitant council tax than for murderous thugs, apparently. When are they going to get immigration under control? They've had 11 years and done precisely nothing. When are they going to put a stop to all this political correctness and human rights crap? It seems that vicious criminals and terrorists have more rights than their victims! As for the NHS - I'd rather die than go into hospital - same result either way! I don't rate Cameron and the Tories at all, but they've got to be better than this lot!

[carol-ann liverpool 5 May 2008 10:34:01]

Hi Nucon Bloggers!

What I am a bit puzzled about is why - when you should be cock-a-hoop that there are so many more Conservative councillors and a Conservative Mayor - you are so bitter and feel the need to attack me - shouldn't you all be magnanimous in victory?

Why should you be bothered what I say when it hasn't made any difference to any voters, according to your analysis?

Lighten up, guys, you are supposed to be H.A.P.P.Y.

[Victor, NW Kent 5 May 2008 09:52:04]

Salvatore

Quite brilliant! Let's hear more from you.

While Brown was smugly playing cat-and-mouse over the expected general election he lost sight of the old saying "He who hesitates is lost".

We pay far, far too much tax in its hundred or more different forms. This government is a spendthrift, careless with money because to them it is not real - it is just numbers.

To the voter who is paying £1.20 a litre for fuel it is not Monopoly money, it is hard earned cash on which tax has already been paid. The excuse that such exorbitant taxation is a "green" issue is just an arrogant and devious lie.

[paul potters bar 5 May 2008 08:36:12]

dianne abbot very surprised how arrogant with almost bullying attitude that is so repugnant to voters. im very surprised on her remarks about boris. as she proclaims to be for the working class and sends her child to private school! thats hardly likely to turn ex labour supporters back to them. sorry dianne games up 24 months to go find another job!!

[G.KING SUSSEX 4 May 2008 22:27:06]

No one is interested.44% have voted for the Tories.Labour came third after the Liberals.It is the end of the Champagne Socialists dream.Diane Abbott endorsed today the bullying,righteous,out of touch with ordinary people attitude we have grown to despise from Labour.As for the gutter press needing to be fair.Please! which papers do you all read?Labour have for too long been protected by the press and especially by certain TV presenters.We know that everything that was said on TV by Brown and co is just not sincere.11 years and the same old spin.Ordinary people will be voting for the Conservatives because they no longer believe in new labour.The tories are now for everyone regardless of class/colour or creed no matter what bullies like Diane Abott say.She will be out of a job after the next election and will have to send her children to a state school.Oh what double standards.

[robert davis barnet herts 4 May 2008 21:53:52]

Diane Abbott is nothing but a loud mouth bully her performance today was a disgrace she just took over the show and Adam you should have told her to shut up and let Rachel Johnson get a few words in.Ms Abbott must remember people in outer London have as much right to a vote as inner London, we pay council tax as well.

[Gerard , Chester-le-Street 4 May 2008 21:28:28]

I saw the digraceful,yet predictable performance of Diane Abbott this morning.Rude ,obnoxious,and clearly rattled.She, like many Labour MP's now finally realise that the end is now in sight.Can't come a moment too soon.

[Craig 4 May 2008 20:26:23]

First chance for me to respond. All I can see is personal attacks on Brown.

The Tories seem to think that if Dave was in power that food prices would be low and fuel prices not rising. They would have sorted NR no problem, dealt with foot and mouth, terrorism, the floods and everything that Brown had to tackle but better, or in the Tory world they wouldn't have happened in the first place. He would have reduced crime (Just threaten the Commissioner, that's the Boris way) more than labour, had better education results and a better NHS despite Labour reducing waiting lists from more than 18 months to less than 18 weeks. They would all have benefited from Camerons IHT tax cut for the super rich as he did away with poverty at the same time. He could achieve all this without policies.

The Tories now have to produce in London and the gutter press must scrutinise what they say and demand answers in the same way that Marr challenged Brown today. They have got to be held to account and asked the simple question ' What would you do in detail in this or that situation. Carol Ann is right! They can't be allowed to just say whatever they like and not be asked the difficult questions.

Tory bloggers here are living in cloud cuckoo land. They accept all the glib assurances from Cameron, being prepared to vote for him, when he refuses to spell out how he will improve anything.

For gods sake - Wake up!!!

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 4 May 2008 19:10:58]

Craig,
Irrespective of what you may think of Brown as a politician, as a leader he is an absolute disaster, and with a personality such as his, it was a disgrace that he ever pushed for the job as P.M.!
He would never have had the ability to be a member of our Armed Forces, but if he had, you can just imagine him telling the C.O. that everybody was out of step but him!

[Pete, Scotland 4 May 2008 19:08:44]

Brown and the Labour Party still don't get it.

I am sick and tired of tax, tax & even more tax.

I am sick and tired of 'Multiculturism' and 'Diversity'.

I am sick and tired of stupid 'Political Correctness'.

I am sick and tired of my hard earned money being taken off me so that the Labour Government can throw it at yet another stupid wasteful scheme.

I am sick and tired of fortnightly bin collections.

I am sick and tired of being made to feel guilty if I don't do my bit to save the planet.

I am sick and tired of seeing unemployed, layabouts enjoying a lifestyle that I can't afford & free of worry because the state will look after them at my expense.

I could go on all night.

I live and work in what used to be a mining area, my Grandfather & father were miners. I beleive in a fair society where the less fortunate are cared for but it has all gone wrong.

Brown says he is listening but it is too late, the damage is done.

I don't think I will be so stupid as vote for this bunch of champagne socialists again.

[Kev, Cheshire 4 May 2008 18:53:46]

If today marked the start of a nEULab relaunch then our Cameron must be rubbing his hands. Clunking fist? Clunking party more like. What a weak leader Brown appeared to be. He won't listen to the public nor will any of his MP's. nEuLab are doomed if they don't start embarking on some very hard and unpalatable (for them) policies such as cutting tax, cutting spending, forcing our idle to work etc. nEULabour - the party of the criminal, the immigrant and the Chav.

[neither/niether 4 May 2008 18:40:44]

Labour has destroyed us financialy over 10 years and done it with so much slight of hand.
All the targets that almost all departments have to achieve, regardless of actual achievements whether it's in police, NHS,schools etc, We know that the figs. are only to hide there mishandling and downright lies, to stay in power.
Blair and all his allies created the mess we are in. They have all now jumped ship, knowing what was coming.
Clarke has the cheek to blame GB and, the GB men and women, when he was part of the Blair team that created the problems we are now in.

Gordon Brown was also part of that team, but I believe Blair and co. used him like good conmen, to encourage him in cooking the books.
They knew he was gullible in his quest for power, and worthy of a place in their gang.
He has been the clever accountant delivering the figs. they needed to show.

Like crooked directors they have bankrupted the country, (trading when they knew the country was insolvent and could never pay it's way) and then got out.
Being kind to GB! he has been left holding the baby!! although he was doing their dirty work.

He has now got what he always wanted, control of the country.
As architect of the massaged figs.he is rightly taking the blame.
He no longer has the clever conmen controlling him, or clever or confident enough in getting protection around him.
He is not going to get himself or us, out of the mess.
None of his team, as honest as some are, will be able to put in a rescue bid as they couldn't get enough experienced and capable staff to help him, or her.
The country has been plundered and the sooner they stop trading and walk away the better, and let another team in to rescure it.

The new controlers are going to have to make hard decisions.
We are going to have to be patient and give them time to do it.
Anybody expecting immediate results will be very dissapointed. Anybody that's been in debt will know how difficult it is to get out of it.

One of the first things The new goverment should do is what this one should have done, and taken from the high earners, to pay for helping poorer and lower paid workers.

If the amount taken is only enough to do this, I believe they would not mind paying until the country is stable, because it would not harm them to any degree.

[Darren, Broxbourne 4 May 2008 18:33:51]

Carol Ann from Liverpool

Are you Diane Abbott in disguise?

[Salvatore, Cirencester, Glos 4 May 2008 18:05:59]

I suppose Brown and his colleagues have to try to reduce the extent to which they can be blamed for the mess they are in, and make some attempt to assure the public that lessons have been learnt.
Their formula is in two slightly inconsistent parts.
First they once again trot out Labours supposed competence, and say world economic conditions outside their control are responsible for most of our economic problems.
Second, they want to assure the public that they will now listen carefully to peoples concerns and act on them.
Presumably any actions will be in the country's long term interests. and therefore may not be visible or have come to fruition by the time of the next election.
Both strands are superficial, and take the electorate to be fools.
Labours alleged competence was trumpeted during a period of very favourable world economic conditions, but Brown still found it necessary to sell most of our gold reserves when the market was at its lowest. That doesnt seem to be a hallmark of competence to me, neither does the way the GPs pay award was handled, and neither does the fact that the pensions industry was hobbled by the removal of something like £50 billion, and that there is no truly convincing argument that money spent on public services provided proper value.
Also of course the government seems to have failed to make any effective provision for the economic downturn which is now with us and was bound to happen at some time.
So far as new listening labour is concerned, the party is famous for its focus groups, and you have to question the competence of politicians who were apparently unaware unaware that people were concerned at rising food and fuel costs etc, and ,despite Mr Cameron bringing this obvious fact to the Prime Ministers attention at PMQs, it took an election for him to wake up to reality.
Another reality he will have to address sooner or later is that he and the Labour Party have forfeited their credibility with large sections of the Country, and that is one of the key reasons they lost so heavily last week.
Who really believes Brown when he says he thought he would win an election last year but decided not to have one.
Who really believed him and Milliband when they told us they were not breaking a manifesto commitment to hold a referendum because the Treaty was different to the Constitution.
Does anyone believe the Government has fully made good its promises to help flood stricken areas, even though almost a year has passed.
Brown was apparently emphatically denying there was any problem with the 10% tax fiasco ( engineered entirely by him without any exterior economic handicaps) until Frank Field made him lose his nerve.
Changes in car tax seem to be smuggled through Parliament via the Red Book rather than announced upfront, and Labour is synonymous with "Stealth Taxes", which I am sure many people regard as the Governments sly and grasping signature.
The list goes on and on, and anyone who wants to see Browns evasive character has only to watch him avoid answering questions no matter how direct they are, at each weeks PMQs.
Finessing explanations for their predicament will not address the credibility problem Labour has created for itself, but it will probably be a more inviting option than trying to restore credibility with the electorate.

[Mentor - Northumberland 4 May 2008 17:43:25]

Carol Anne:

How many hesitant voters would you think your efforts have convinced to vote anything but Labour?

Keep it up, you're doing a great job!

[Dave, Blackburn 4 May 2008 17:34:50]

Madnurse

It is interesting that Ken got more votes than he did last time but still lost - however, he didn't lose by a big margin, so there is still a substantial number of Londoners who did not give Boris their vote.

Maybe Boris's minders where aware of that fact when they had to smuggle him out of the backdoor of the building after he had done the signing in ceremony, yesterday, and made a short speech.(in line with his 'clown' image, he did a funny trip up the steps routine,lol)

Bit worrying that Tory officials had to smuggle Boris out BEFORE he has implemented any of his policies!
Of course, Cammers would not want to have a picture of Boris passing by a group of protesters outside the London Assembly building, flashed around the UK and the world.
That would have meant less dosh for his image agency in bonuses.

Boris will have to remember the rather large minority who voted for Ken or he is going to hit some serious trouble in the not too distant future, and it is going to get even worse than a few protesters if the strength of feeling in some areas are indicitive of a more general feeling.

Posted by: carol-ann liverpool 4 May 2008 14:06:26

As ever, I piece of class escapism by a rose tinted spectacle wearing 'socialist'...who OBVIOUSLY doesn't need reminding that the the Conservatives won the majority of ENGLISH votes cast (at the last General Election. WE were stuck with BLIAR then & COURAGE (yeh...right!!!) NOW!
Stop bleating about Boris & reply to this (more important) issue!
There will always be a sizeable majority of voters who are not going to be happy with any outcome..it's called 'democracy'. Tell me, how did courage get on with his leadership election?..I must have missed that one!

[Victor, NW Kent 4 May 2008 17:22:23]

Carol-Ann

When you able to voice an original thought and not just parrotting Beloved Leader; when you are able to recognise facts, then you may be able to blog sensibly. At the moment you are hardly better than Dianne Abbott.

So you think that last week was the first time Cameron has talked about poverty? Even the Daily Mirror has carried reports of much earlier Cameron and Osborne speeches addressing this issue very seriously. You have just failed to see them, hear them or recognise them

You believe that Boris was hustled out of the gerkin after he signed in? Wrong again and as usual. He went immediately to meetings which he had called with the chiefs of police, fire and ambulance servies, just not on the public floor in front of reporters.

Yes Livingstone polled a lot of votes whilst the LibDems polled a very, very poor third. Boris simply had more followers. Ken is much more popular in London than is Brown or any of the Labour Cabinet in the rest of the UK. Ken scored about double the average vote for Labour elsewhere. Boris outpolled the other Conservatives by almost 9% so he is also popular.

Please do not follow the arrogant Brownite line that the electorate is so stupid that they don't know what they are voting for. At least they know who they don't want!

[jammy 4 May 2008 17:19:29]

Adam,
- You showed very little control over that woman Dianne Abbott this morning, which was quite disgusting and unprofessional, she even had the audacity to reach out and the pair of you touched/held hands at one point ! what's that all about then ?!
- Abbott illustrated exactly what's wrong with Labour - agressive, unlistening (to Rachel Johnson's viewpoint), shout the loudest and damn the other guest and yourself - as long as she shouted her stupid views above any that Rachel tried to make.
- A totally unbalanced piece of "news" or discussion on topical items, and a disgrace to Sky and yourself.
- I had thought more of Sky/yourself up until this morning - hence will not be watching as often from now on .. I mean, what's the point if that's the standard that's supposedely "acceptable" ?!

[William Ford, Wirral 4 May 2008 17:14:52]

Mr Broon, Mr Broon, here's a News Flash for you.

You keep blaming the 'Global Economy' but insist on being drawn into a global economy, where mortgages going wrong in other countrys hit our country really hard.

When are you going to get the big picture?, there will be no global economy to be a part of without sustainable fuels and transportation.

Instead of bowing to Europe and America and moaning about OPEC, perhaps you should use some of that prudence you've shown so little of and reconsider your position and make some inroads into the UK becoming a little more self sufficient instead of allowing every opportunistic migrant who fancies it, come here and strip our economy bare.

Stop building houses for imigrants and start growing food, there's little point in having a high population if you can't feed them, give them electricity, gas, water or transportation.

You are a fool Gordon Brown, the electorate aren't stupid and to insist your policies are correct and will ultimately be proven right is akin to madness.

Call an election Gordon, you and your party are no longer wanted, you are a dangerous menace and need to go.

[Bill, Middle England 4 May 2008 17:01:15]

Mr Brown today provided even more evidence that he is YouDontGov.

New Lab are not quite finished but Gordon's lacklustre performances around TV studios this morning suggest his chances now rest solely on Team Dave slipping up.

The past 11 years have been marked by those on the Left deluding themselves over the causes of economic success. Gordon inherited an economy fit for purpose during the best global conditions for 50 years. He didn't create it.

He merely took over at the helm once the ship was already sailing in the right direction and on the most helpful international waters ever experienced.

Gordon and New Lab have wasted a magnificent opportunity. For that, they deserve a very long spell in the political wilderness.

[Travis Bickle 4 May 2008 16:50:23]

Carol-Ann

The Tories received more votes in England than Labour in last general election. A rather lower margin than the one you seem to claim denies Boris legitimacy.

I really don't know what point you are trying to make. Boris won the election fair and square and, like any other elected politician, should expect to incur the wrath of the electorate if he fails to deliver. It is usually fair to give them a chance to sink or swim before making silly accusations and obseervations.

Still I suppose easier to blame the nasty press, media and stupid voters than accept the 10p tax debacle was the most disgraceful thing any government has inflicted on the lowest paid (with their road fund licence about to double soon) let alone a Labour Government. It amazes me that true Labour supporters continue to defend this betrayal.

[malachy 4 May 2008 16:25:41]

Why did you go to the ads in the middle of the interview?

so unprofessional and a new low for Sky News,half the audience share of BBC News Channel now i believe.

[John, Basingstoke 4 May 2008 16:21:16]

Labour really showed what they are on your show.
Diane Abbott was disgraceful a verbal bully to who you should have told "Shut the """" up!! and let your fellow guest at least say one sentence without hysterical interventions from you.
Its your show take command of it
I also felt you let Brown off the hook too gentle, too acquiesent, as you always are with senior Labour politicans.
His diatribe was pathetic his answers were none(just like PMQ's) the usual claptrap and sound bites what a disgrace the man is as PM.
You say this is the start of the fightback, what fight? the man commites political suicide on your show without any intervention from your homely too gentle questioning.
Sorry Adam but you need to sharpen up your approach to the PM

[Northernhousewife 4 May 2008 15:59:45]

Carol Ann.
You are right. Ken got the second highest vote ever in the London election and its demonstrates his support.
Just how popular is Boris then who got the best ever and 6% more?
I'll tell you. Boris's first preferences were more than Ken's whole vote. In other words, Boris got more first preference votes than anyone has ever got adding all their votes together.
Amazing.

As for Ms Abbott, from the comments on here and elsewhere on blogsphere, her attitude backfired big time.

[Mark 4 May 2008 15:44:34]

Carole Anne, I think you need a bit of a reality check.

Before you rush off to blast Boris, perhaps you should consider, if Labour and Red Ken are so unpopular that even Boris could win (quite honestly had a road sweeper stood for the conservatives he or she stood a good chance of becoming mayor). Perhaps you shouldn't be looking outward, pointing fingers and fear mongering and sounding like a scalded child, which currently sounds ridiculous, but perhaps you should be looking inward for the failure and start asking why Labour and Ken were so unpopular, because thats a skill Labour fans don't quite seem to be capable of yet and it's going to cost them dear.

Are we listening yet? ..no, obviously not!

[Denise, Glossop 4 May 2008 15:07:35]

All Labour MPs seem to have attended the same Bore-Everyone-To-Death-With-Mind-Numbing-Rhetoric School.
How many times do they bang on and on with "We need to do this, We need to do that". What they NEED to do is DO what they need to do.
Then we have the sleep-inducing rhetoric of citing the 1997 statistics over and over again. Their other tactic is to speak as fast and as loud as they possibly can banging on and on with meaningless cant until the interview time has run out (they hope) and they can be off the hook. They come across as wooden, brain washed puppets, and bring visions of Marx, Stalin, and "1984"- which has turned out to be 2008!!

[Bruce Hulmes 4 May 2008 15:06:24]

Rob,Glasgow

When is he naming the date for this contest, could it be in 2010 any bets.

[Bruce Hulmes 4 May 2008 15:04:33]

Carol Ann.What exactly are you getting at.,Yes some voters did go for Livingstone as in past elections some voted for other candidates. No complaints from Labour then was there.And on the rent a mob, what exactly does that prove, so Livingstones supporters are so annoyed at being beaten they are demonstrating, do they not believe in one man one vote. Or is it only democrocy when the vote goes to Labour.
And your last paragraph said it all the minority who voted for Ken, get that MINORITY.

[Purps, Chelmsford 4 May 2008 14:51:52]

This is the type of approach Adam should have made to the clunking fist.
Tax take tipping point

There comes a time in every Labour government, when the Tax Take reaches a tipping point that sees them ousted and in the wilderness for a generation. We have once again reached that point and surpassed it.
Yes I do believe most English people are socialist in nature, they do not want to see poverty, they contribute to charities as a way of taking people out of poverty in the third world, even in the knowledge that left thinking people make money from administering the charities. However, they cannot be taken for granted and as a cash cow forever, at some point they always vote stop enough is enough.

If the Purps were advising Boris and Dave, I would tell them to go on a radical Tax change policy of reducing Tax on the following.
1) Private education >Give them the Tax break on thisGive them a reduction in NI<
In the end, the above will benefit everyone.
Reduce Fuel duty by 15p and ensure that foreign truck drivers, must either use a UK transport haulage company, or pay road tax and purchase a full tank of diesel.
Then reduce Tax rates on the poor, make it Tax-free for the first £12,000 pounds, pay for this by lowering the 40p Tax band down to 28p on salaries above 26,000.
Simplify the Tax system and reduce the numbers at HRMC who are also baffled by Tax Credits and save the country billions.
Tax should never be a part of welfare; it is separate and must remain so.

P.S. I thought Diane Abbot was shameless in her attack on Boris, she is nothing more than a Black women with a huge, chip on her shoulder. The question Boris’s sister should have asked her was whether Boris was unsuitable in her opinion because he went to Eton, then why does she send her son to a private school.

[Mark, Fordingbridge 4 May 2008 14:39:24]

Gordon Brown, same old, same old, nuff said.

However, Diana Abbott really disappointed me today, of all politicians on either side, I usually find her comments against the canvas of 'This Week' to be a somewhat refreshing and realistic view of whats going on in their little world and on the backbenches of her party.

I can only assume therefore that the back benches are in total disarray and getting very nervous if her usually candid but considered tone has been distilled down to the bitchy, bullying, fully in denial, display, so familiar of Labour politicians in general at the moment, that we saw today.

Not one of the televised interviews I've seen in the last couple of days, of any of the Labour minions has shown me that any one of them are grasping whats going on here and I'd give good money never to see Yvette Coopers face on television again. Ms Cooper, convincingly dodging questions, is a political art you simply haven't got the hang of.

Jacquie Smiths 'kick up the backside' comment on the election results, is a little like saying, 9/11 and the twin towers was a minor aeronatical navigation problem, we're not falling for it my dear, because we simply don't believe in you.

A fundamental shift of public opinion has already happened and maintaining course, as Gordon is so determinded to do, is simply driving the nails further into the Labour Party coffin and regardless of what happens here, Labour are going to pay drastically at the next general election.

Certain politicians are conspicous by their absence, should we be left to guess where the forthcoming leadership challenge will come from?

My money is on Ed Balls as I personally wouldn't trust Miliband to park my car, let alone become PM, but Ed Balls does seems to have a pair, even if he's as deluded as the rest of his party at the moment and in the long run, even that will make no significant difference to the outcome.

Still, at least politics isn't boring at the moment.

[tony cape 4 May 2008 14:13:05]

Brown does not listen he is only interested in his own point of view.Adam never got one straight reply only evasive sly answers.The point made about the current cabinet was a strong one. Anyone who could stand up to him has been pushed aside.He is not likable nor able.

[carol-ann liverpool 4 May 2008 14:06:26]

Madnurse

It is interesting that Ken got more votes than he did last time but still lost - however, he didn't lose by a big margin, so there is still a substantial number of Londoners who did not give Boris their vote.

Maybe Boris's minders where aware of that fact when they had to smuggle him out of the backdoor of the building after he had done the signing in ceremony, yesterday, and made a short speech.(in line with his 'clown' image, he did a funny trip up the steps routine,lol)

Bit worrying that Tory officials had to smuggle Boris out BEFORE he has implemented any of his policies!
Of course, Cammers would not want to have a picture of Boris passing by a group of protesters outside the London Assembly building, flashed around the UK and the world.
That would have meant less dosh for his image agency in bonuses.

Boris will have to remember the rather large minority who voted for Ken or he is going to hit some serious trouble in the not too distant future, and it is going to get even worse than a few protesters if the strength of feeling in some areas are indicitive of a more general feeling.

[John Blizzard, Krakow 4 May 2008 14:06:04]

Dear Adam,

Unfortunatley the interview with the PM following the local elections in England and Wales did not cover any of the local issues that concern many people. You let him off far too lightly. The huge increases in Council Tax in the last decade, but reduction of services does cause concern - no more weekly rubbish collections, fines for putting rubbish in the wrong bin, fines for not being able to close the bin, parking fines administered on CCTV evidence, spying on paprents to ensure they live in the catchment area for particular schools, wholesale immigration without the support for essential local services, too many police officers 'in the station' but too busy to attend ongoing crime, or even patrol the streets, gun crime, knife crime, yobbish behavour, etc. none of these were mentioned, The other major issue is the fact that the PM presides over laws for the English which do not affect those who elected him to parliament and he has the Scottish mafia, Darling, Des Brown, Alexander, as supporters. Add the increases of VED to cars which people have owned for several years is almost retrospective legislation. If this issue was genuinely a 'green issue' then fuel tax would be the remedy, although the government's green credentials are extremely suspect. To have a large vehicle which is used sparinlgy, or for special occasions and perhaps covers 6000 miles per year is far less polluting than a small vehicle vehicle with covers 40,000 miles a year.

[Rob Glasgow 4 May 2008 13:56:41]

So Gordon will "relish" the thought of taking on Cameron in a general election? Well why doesn't he try it then if it will be that easy?

[Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit Scotland 4 May 2008 13:54:20]

I saw Gordon Brown on Adam's show and was delighted to see him carry on with the same old arrogant smirk (Gordon that is!). All he does is "listen" to people and then say "I think what that person was actually trying to say is..." and do what he wants anyway.

Gordon is such a pathetic, impolite, arrogant and worthless man that he can't even bring himself to congratulate Boris Johnson on his victory. But then Gordon has never won a leadership victory in his life and he will run scared of any election now right up until his legally last day in office.

[sheila winer 4 May 2008 13:48:45]

Adam,
I watched Dianne Abbotts interveiw on your show and was disgusted with her arrogant supercillious attitude. She is typical, however, of many of the Labour MPs, including Gordon Brown who added nothing to what he has said before, Basically, WE have to understand HIS solutions and suffer in silence.
It is not surprising that London rejected Red Ken's communist anachronims - tax and inject money into worthless enterprises - not to mention his failure to deal with crime and the transport problems. As to whether Brown should go ior stay. Why does he talk about listening now? He should have been listening before to people's problems if he were really in tune with the sentiment of the country. If he stays, the probability is that the Tories will win the next election. It is up to him whether individual pride and anbition wins over what his party might believe to be the best for the country.
Regards,
s.w.

[Linda Stewart 4 May 2008 13:47:39]

Clearly, D Abbot was rattled badly by Labour's results. So, much so, that I thought her childish behaviour was going to end up with her breathing into a brown paper bag. She was on the point of hyperventilating. Shame on her. We all know what Labour is all about. She just reminded us why we voted the way we did, and will still do in the Big One. Bring it on.

[peterbuss 4 May 2008 13:41:11]

What a truly obnoxious display put on by Diane Abbott this morning. Arrogant, patronising, rude and bullying. I would have quite liked to hear Rachel Johnsons view - but Diane never gave me the chance. Id she really is repesentative of Labour then its no wonder the Govt is fast going down the drain,
Well done on a brilliant interview with the PM, Adam. It was fair - but tough.

[carol-ann liverpool 4 May 2008 13:35:19]

Perhaps you have rather understated your case, there, Mark!

I do see a tactic in what you say - similar to the one that the Tories are going to use next: i.e. just in case Gordon steps down, damage any possible contenders, now, until the next election, so that the possible heir apparent in the Labour Party will be damaged and thus the Labour Party's choices will be more limited.
There are some Labour people that Cameron is afraid of and they are the ones that he will be going after.
I suggest we will see Con-man Dave using that tactic a bit more often this year.

Similarly, the Con-Team will also be using the tactic that you are using: i.e. think of all possible actions that The Government can take to show the people that they are taking action on their concerns, and rubbish them before they are announced.

However, we await the detail of the NuCons' policies, so we can see if they really do have some substance - because that is what the public will be expecting to hear soon.
Con-man Dave has managed to sell his 'double-glazing' to those who want to be one up on their neighbours, but before too long, the public will realise that the price they will pay is a hell of a lot more than they reckoned.

People will eventually see through the hypocrisy of Dave who, when the 10p tax issue started to be a problem for Labour, jumped on the bandwagon to criticise it, when he and the Nucons had plans to do the same and never substantially criticised it when it was brought in.
What they were clever at, is picking up the vibe on the street and throwing petrol on the fire.
We will, no doubt, have Dave at the next news conference and PMQs saying that the Nucons will either reverse that decision or raise personal allowances.

Last week, for the first time, Cammers talked about 'poverty issues' and mentioned the word 'poverty' several times and he is now saying that the Nucons are on the side of the poor - that is just another example of his sickening hypocrisy and opportunism.
In time, the public will see through it - I just hope they see through it, before the Nucons wreak havoc on the welfare state, National Health Service and education system.
The backers of the Nucons are those that want to put the poor back into domestic service and the landed gentry in charge of the country.

It is interesting that Boris Johnson, for example, has used the selling point of his individuality and 'celebrity' to win the Mayor of London job, when it will be Con-men Cammers, Obnoxious and Lord Cashcard, who are really running London.

Michael Gove admitted that, this morning, on another channel, when he was asked if London was going to be a microcosm of Tory policy for the rest of the country and he agreed it was

[mr d manchester 4 May 2008 13:07:11]

i hope ms abbott's son at public school doesn't get too much of a ribbing after seeing his class warrior mum

[Denise, Glossop 4 May 2008 12:52:44]

This Government rides roughshop over everyone. Willy nilly they implement disasterous policies with no thought of the consequences and the affect on ordinary people's lives, just that it seems a good idea at the time. Outrage from the public ensues and then, and ONLY then, when they can see their jobs on the line, do they promise some tactics to reverse their decisions at some nebulous time in the future.

[Robert, Fordingbridge 4 May 2008 12:47:27]

I do find it amusing that Brown refered to David Cameron as a 'slick salesman', afterall, Gordon did manage to get rid of Labours own super slimey salesman when he took over the pm's job from Tony Blair.

It must stick in Gordons craw that he managed to get his own salesman fired, leaving Labour vulnerable, while he can't do anything but bitch about the one on the other side who appears to be doing a better job than he can.

Sour grapes perhaps Gordon?

[Denise, Glossop 4 May 2008 12:42:03]

All Labour MPs seem to have attended the same Bore-Everyone-To-Death-With-Mind-Numbing-Rhetoric School.
How many times do they bang on and on with "We need to do this, We need to do that". What they NEED to do is DO what they need to do.
Then we have the sleep-inducing rhetoric of citing the 1997 statistics over and over again. Their other tactic is to speak as fast and as loud as they possibly can banging on and on with meaningless cant until the interview time has run out (they hope) and they can be off the hook. They come across as wooden, brain washed puppets, and bring visions of Marx, Stalin, and "1984"- which has turned out to be 2008!!

[Victor, NW Kent 4 May 2008 12:21:40]

Horrifying displays of arrogance from the Labour guests.

I am only echoing others when I say that the overbearing and insulting display by Dianne Abbott to Rachel Johnson was well over the top - much more suited to Big Brother than a news and curent affairs show.

Gordon Brown has correctly identified the reasons for Labour's setbacks. The public are so stupid that they are falling for the Conservatives' slick "salesmanship" [repeat, repeat, repeat]. Just look how the Tories failed to take action over Northern Rock. He has made it clear that he is now detached from reality.

Those members of the public who are really stupid will believe this arrogant nonsense. The brighter ones will see right through this smokescreen of evasion and lies.

[Nick, Wokingham 4 May 2008 12:19:20]

Craig, I suggest you go and lie down in a darkened room for a while. It's over, time's up, bring on the election ASAP and let's get rid of this nauseous crew who are not (and never were) fit to govern. You can fool some of the people some of the time.....

[E. Greenacre, Grimsby 4 May 2008 12:03:33]

I saw Gordon Brown on the BBC describing David Cameron as a slick salesman, as if this was something derogatory. If Gordon Brown had ever worked in a real company or had any experience of a proper job, he would know that salesmen are some of the most respected members of a company, as production and admin know that their jobs depend on salesmen getting out, working hard and selling the product, and it is no easy job. Brown can't even conjure up a decent insult - he is totally pathetic.

[Mr L H Beaven 4 May 2008 12:01:51]

Diane Abbot dominated your Sunday interview and just rode roughshod over you and the other member of the debate.Such arrogance!"she doesn't know anything..."
"you people...." to quote her.
Why did you let her get away with it?

[Dave, Blackburn 4 May 2008 12:01:47]

I've posted this a few times over the past 12 months...I hope that I would be allowed to do so ..again!
is it still relevant???..I think so...

As a none Labour voter all my life, it is gratifying to see that so many nu (or old) Labour voters have had enough.
What I struggle to understand is just what was the attraction in the first place.
Let's not go near economic competance (the country is up to it's eyeballs in debt), Job 'creation'...Plastic Policemen, Outreach Workers & other Non Jobs.PFIs...yet MORE Debt to be paid back. Security...borders open to any one to wander in.Iraq, Afgantistan, the Balkans..all wars that Bliar decided to stick his nose into (to what end??).TAX..NI..Council Tax at all time highs!!Pls don't tell me about the 20% starting rate (nor the 10%)...what about the personal alllowances?? Not many moons ago, paying 40% tax meant that things were going well on the work front NOT NOW! Child Literacy appalling.Yeh..the Toris did screw up on many fronts (with the help of the unions) BUT things were NEVER this bad!
3 million unemployed?? Yep!
How many now?? Depends who you listen to, but it's a darn sight more!
Hang your head in shame, all who were taken in by Bliar all those years back.
BUT WELCOME HOME...we've missed you

[Brian Christley. Abergele 4 May 2008 11:54:36]

Gordon Brown talks a lot about leadership - if he was in the army, with his leadership skills, he wouldn’t have even made corporal.

[Brian Christley. Abergele 4 May 2008 11:53:56]

Diane Abbott claimed (on Sky News) that Boris doesn’t know anything about local government – seeing the mess those who claim they do know make, London have definitely made the right choice

[Denise, Glossop 4 May 2008 11:50:12]

I have just watched Adam's interview with the Labour MP Diane ? and Boris Johnson's sister and am so incensed that I cannot even remember their names! The MP was loud, rude, arrogant, smug,
chock-a-block with typical Labour class envy and did nothing but talk over Boris's sister, shouting her down continuously. When asked by Adam to have the last word the MP had the temerity to complain that she should have it. The last word? Boris's sister didn't manage to get ANY word!
If this smug MP is a typical example of Labourites then its no wonder they have lost so many seats.
Please Mr. Boulton, can you not control such dominating loud-mouths who really have nothing to say except their tedious rhetoric.
Denise, Glossop.

[Margaret 4 May 2008 11:46:07]

Adam - Why didn't you ask Brown this am - his policies on immigration, law and order,benefits system out of control - These are the issues that are important to me and alot of other people!!!
HE HAS NOT CHANGED - STILL ARROGANT BY BLAIMING THE world economy - should have left ours in a better state - instead of spending like there's no tomorrow.
Go now Brown!

[E Welshman 4 May 2008 11:44:29]

If a bit of machinery has sand in its gearbox, you strip it down, get rid of any damaged components, reassemble it and change the oil.

Bottler, with that apology of a re-launch, has I'm pleased to say, just put more sand into the gearbox.

He evaded the questions

1. on compensation to those who have been affected by the removal of the 10p tax threshold and

2. on the effect of the vehicle excise duty increases on poorer families with older cars.

Still more uncertainty and confusion.

Sky didn't help his cause either by showing clips of him going around an 'Elect Ken' call centre (what good did he do for Ken?) glad-handing about six people who appeared to be standing in a broom-cupboard, with completely empty corridors in front and behind him. Are even the rent-a-crowd mob losing interest?

Long may he stay as Labour leader.

[PD Oxford 4 May 2008 11:43:55]

Did I get this right? The broadcasted interview just cut out towards (I guess) its end with sudden adverts. No closure, thanks etc

What happened? Did someone pull the anti-bulls**t plug?

[mike archer--- Iran 4 May 2008 11:37:23]

Sadly mr. brown, as I expected, turned out to be not the great statesman, the image he tried to create for himself.He back stabbed and manipulated his way into the top job and bullied away any opposition.If he was a man of vision and determination i could atleast understand that but he has proved to be incapable of doing the job and I dont think I need to dwell on his failings.I think he should consider his future for the good of the Labour party.

[Madnurse 4 May 2008 11:34:51]

It's 11-20 and the political guests have been on and now matters turn to what are, in my opinion, less interesting guests. Now is the perfect time to comment before cooking the dinner.

Alex Salmond: I find him slightly slippery but, he does put the people he claims to represent first.

Papers: When you have a sophisticated educated person like Rachael Johnson on with Ms Abbot, Ms Abbot appears to be a bully and Ms Johnson being too well mannered and sophisticated, allowed that bullying to take place. Adam should have protected Ms Johnson's right to comment. Wasn't it sad to see how quickly Ms Abbot brought race in to the argument.
Boris is no more a racist than Mr Brown is the Queen of Sheba.

Mr Brown: A good interview Adam, Mr Brown should have appeared in public on Friday and Saturday to answer his critics instead of hiding and letting his Stepford Robots take the fall out.
The PM still fails to appreciate that, people don't want to fill out endless forms giving the government more and more personal details in order to get back some of the tax they should not be forced to pay in the first place.
Raise personal allowances, simplify the tax system and then cut the number of civil servants that are needed to administer this over complicated taxation system.
Net result? Savings.

Messers Duncan and Hune, one speaks sense (Duncan) one is a LibDem....Need I say more?

Best Sunday Live with Adam Boulton programme for a fairly long time in my view. Well Done Adam!!

[James Moore UK 4 May 2008 11:12:09]

Hello All!

So much for Brown listening and taking action!

Looks to me he has no intention of changing direction!

The 10p tax move was a disagrace!

The constant barrage of the term TAX CREDITS is driving me mad! I don't want to live in a country and rely on handouts from the govt! Time for all BENEFITS to be removed immediately!

Fuels costs are a disgrace! Again he danced around the issue of govt taxtion! This tax should be reduced now!

Vehicle Tax discs! Again he dances around the obvious! All of us are going to be worse off!

TIME FOR AN ELECTION NOW!

[James,London 4 May 2008 11:10:57]

The problem is with our political class generally not just Labour politicians where it is most noticeable.
Somehow we need to need back to believing in a small state and individual liberty which is very different than thinking the State can give us ‘Rights’. This means leaving the European Union which reflects the historic dominance of State power in Continental Europe.
Fitness for purpose rather than cultural Marxist political correct dogma should be the basis of the criminal justice,education and immigration systems.

[joy wigan 4 May 2008 11:09:21]

just watched the PM being interviewed by Adam Bolton, so far i have heard nothing that makes me feel that the PM Brown is listening and learning, all i heard was him trying to justify the policies already in place, the only thing he gave away was the 60 to 64 yr olds will be compensated, is that more to do with the fact that this group of voters are the ones most likely to go to the ballot box?

[joy 4 May 2008 11:07:22]

just watched the PM being interviewed by Adam Bolton, so far i have heard nothing that makes me feel that the PM Brown is listening and learning, all i heard was him trying to justify the policies already in place, the only thing he gave away was the 60 to 64 yr olds will be compensated, is that more to do with the fact that this group of voters are the ones most likely to go to the ballot box?

[Mentor - Northumberland 4 May 2008 11:05:51]

Well up till now I have watched the programme and it's hilarious.

1 - Despite Adams efforts at laying into the SNP - it didn't work, it looks like the SNP are winners!
2 - Dianne Abbot certainly justifies voters voting for anyone but Labour! She can only win a debate when no one else is allowed to speak - so she won this one!
3 - Gordon, my god the man is totally oblivious to the reality that is. He effectively is saying 'They will continue to re-arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic' no matter what.

The Tories need do nothing to oust the Moronic Government!

[Northernhousewife 4 May 2008 11:05:37]

Having watched the show this morning I was struck by two things.

a. The Gov are supposed to be listening and yet Diane Abbott aggressively talked over other guests and Adam, bullied and was really quite unpleasant. No evidence of listening there. Not unless it means we are supposed to listen to them and not interupt.

b. Brown. No change there. Same old same old. Repeat same language, repeat same figures, blame everyone else have a go at the Tories.
Interestingly, I watched abit of Marr and he obviously felt more 'at home' with him than Adam, and he resorted to trying to scare people about Cameron. Remember years ago before Cameron was around etc. It worked really well for John Major when he tried it with Tony Blair! Didn't work against Boris either.

Point of real anger! Brown uses the word 'salesman' as an insult. There are very many hardworking sales men and women who struggle to do their job particularly in current circumstances, selling British companies both here and abroad. If it weren't for them many orders wouldn't be placed and jobs would be lost.
The man insults hard working and the pathetic thing is he doesn't even realsie. Its obviously something that has come up in a focus group. More votes lost. Its not a disgrace to be a saleman.
Its a disgrace for a British PM to denigrate hard working people for political ends.

[Andrew, Peterborough 4 May 2008 11:04:21]

I'm watching Mr Brown's 'fightback' on Boulton on Sunday. Mr Brown - you can't polish a turd. Your Home Secretary has said 'the voters have given us a kick up the backside'. Mr Brown, we did not. To extend the metaphor, we gave you and your party both barrels, point blank, between the eyes. I look forward subsequently to urinating on your political graves. I just dread to think how much more damage you will do to the country before you get your political comeuppance for a decade+ of waste, tax, spend, lies, an illegal war and your own broken promise on the Lisbon Treaty referendum. And more tax.

[Gordon, Cardiff 4 May 2008 11:03:52]

Not original I know, but Gordon Brown's 'fight-back' on Sunday Live was the longest suicide note in history. Only Ken Livingstone has said anything rmeotely statesmanlike when he pointed out it was better for Boris to succeed than for Ken to be able to day I told you so. Why can't other Labour politicians sound as gracious?

[Sue 4 May 2008 11:03:39]

No help for people like me who were forced into early retirement on a pension of £6000 pa and not being anywhere near 65 years old. My pension stops me getting Job Seekers Allowance so I will be worse off.

[John Clarke---Sheffield 4 May 2008 11:02:30]

I am a fully paid up member of a union,have paid my dues since 1968,including political levy.I had to retire on ill health in 2001,my pension is £9,500 per year.Just had my check for April---£15.80 extra tax.
Ask me why Gorden I will never vote Labour again.

[Graham Doll 4 May 2008 10:59:34]

A typically lacklustre performance from the PM. More of the same in the pipeline, goodbye Labour.

[Ian Olive 4 May 2008 10:59:14]

What an appalling performance by Brown.

If the PLP is not plotting his downfall, they ought to be. He is truly pathetic.

I am now quite sure that he is as mad as a hatter and that is being very unfair to the headwear industry.

[Dorothy Williamson, Mozambique 4 May 2008 10:57:39]

Myself and my husband are retired police officers. We were both retired hurt after 21 and 20 years respectively. Our pensions are £700 per month each. Remember we paid the highest pension contributions in europe whilst in service (11%). I have been urinated on, spat on and had a gun levelled at me yet I still did my job. On retirement after a job related injury I had to leave the UK because I couldn't afford to stay. Although I live outside the UK I still have to pay taxes to the UK government. I pay taxes in Mozambique too. I am 45 not 65 and receive no benifit from the UK tax system. How can Gordon Brown say that his system is fair and that his scrapping of the 10p tax band will not effect me. Whilst a serving police officer the labour government undermined my work and now they undermine my life with a system that is unfair.

[ray ormskirk 4 May 2008 10:56:04]

I have just watched your program which turned out to be the Abbott and Costello Show but Costello never turned up. Diane Abbott could not shut up and listen and typified the government she represents, if you keep talking you never have to listen and never need answer the question.

[Northernhousewife 4 May 2008 10:48:09]

Craig is to be applauded by himself!

[Diane - Chelsfield 4 May 2008 10:42:26]

How embarrasing was Diane Abbott on the show today - perhaps her behaviour reflects the typical Labour way of doing things at the moment - no listening, just interruption, bombardment, and agression- please don't have her on the show again.

[Darren, Broxbourne 4 May 2008 10:39:59]

Adam, you need to control your guests better. Diane Abbott was running the discussion and didn't let you or Rachel Johnson get a word in. The most embarrassing part was when you said 'last word for Rachel' Diane Abbott whined 'that's not fair' - life isn't fair Diane, Gordon Brown has shown us that.

[Tony Spinner, Stroud, Gloucestershire 4 May 2008 10:39:41]

Dear Andrew,
within a week of Gordon Browns last budget as chancellor I wrote to him advising of the hardship the abolition of the 10p tax rate would cause me. I am a late 50's worker with no dependants and no disability. I work part time and hence to not qualify for income tax credits. My income has been reduced as a direct result of labour policy.
The reply I recieved was at best dissmisive and totally ignored any points I had made and simply spouted party dogma about the income tax credits which I had told them was not applicable. Hardly a "listening government"
Can Mr Brown state live on screen that part time workers such as myself will be included in his recovery package.
Alternatively will he publicly admit and accept that his policy will reduce the income of certain sections of the working population.

Yours sincerely
Tony Spinner

[Tony Spinner, Stroud, Gloucestershire 4 May 2008 10:39:34]

Dear Andrew,
within a week of Gordon Browns last budget as chancellor I wrote to him advising of the hardship the abolition of the 10p tax rate would cause me. I am a late 50's worker with no dependants and no disability. I work part time and hence to not qualify for income tax credits. My income has been reduced as a direct result of labour policy.
The reply I recieved was at best dissmisive and totally ignored any points I had made and simply spouted party dogma about the income tax credits which I had told them was not applicable. Hardly a "listening government"
Can Mr Brown state live on screen that part time workers such as myself will be included in his recovery package.
Alternatively will he publicly admit and accept that his policy will reduce the income of certain sections of the working population.

Yours sincerely
Tony Spinner

[Harry Robinson, Basingstoke 4 May 2008 10:38:43]

So much for Labour finally learning to listen!! Diane Abbot wouldn't shut up for a second to let another opinion be aired!
Now Gordons doing the same!

[Bill K 4 May 2008 10:38:25]

One question. Name one labour policy which has contributed to redistributing wealth from the rich to the less fortunate.

They never seemed to understand that an across the board tax increase can be devastating for some and not even noticed by others.

As for their policies, by ignoring the wishes of the British people, what did they expect? Congratulations?

Some have complained about the empty Tory policies and how they should be attacked. This shows the paucity of their understanding of the situation. People have had enough and are rejecting Labour and THEIR policies.

People would abstain or vote for ANY opposition.

Even yet, Brown maintains his policies are right for the long term. He claims to be listening. Does he hear voices? He is certainly not listening to the people.

[G.KING SUSSEX 4 May 2008 10:33:21]

Everything that is wrong with Labour came out of Dianne Abbotts mouth today.Disgraceful and sarcastic attacks on Boris.How anyone who would vote for this bully is beyond comprehension.

[Sean, Hertfordshire 4 May 2008 10:31:33]

Just seen Diane Abbott "reviewing" the papers on your show. If you want to know why Labour are doing so badly in Diane I give you one good reason! What a completely dreadful woman. Total champagne socialist hypocrite.

[Adrian 4 May 2008 10:20:55]

Why do interviewers always give Salmond an easy ride? The oil debate is one of pure greed but its never discussed in that way. Salmond is right that the oil revenues goes to the 'London' but it goes back out to the regions to pay for schools and hospitals etc. So the Scots just want it for themselves and stuff the neighbours. So behind his smiles its just greed, that's not friendly is it?

[Rob Glasgow 4 May 2008 10:19:51]

I have never been talked to, so condescendingly, by anyone in my life, more than this labour party. Patronising isn't the word. Does this shower of so-called politicians think we are children? 'We know better than you, so this is what you will do etc?' Ireland are having a referendum on the Lisbon treaty - why aren't we? The Irish Taosich himself admitted that the Constitution and the Lisbon treaty were, and i quote, "96% the same". I am so angry with this government, my vote is going to Cameron. My friends and family are following suit.

[Kev, Cheshire 4 May 2008 10:08:24]

It's not just the 10p rate. It is also the consistent lies about inflation that are pegging back our pay rises. It is the failure to give us our vote on the EU when Labour promised us one (we are not all stupid Mr Browd, some of us can see there is no difference between the Lisbon Treaty and the Constitution). It is the violation of our pensions. It is the taxpayer funding 5 million on benefits whilst we import a million people to do the work our own idle should be doing. It is the car tax fiddle. It is the the lies regarding crime. It is the dumbing down of our school exams. It is the politicisation of the police. It is the creeping influence of the EU. It is the releasing of prisoners early from jail. It is the failure to get a grip with the criminal scum who kill on our streets. It is the failure to deal with drunks and druggies. Need I go on? Don't think this is all to do with the 10p rate and the global econnomic downturn (which incidently we seem ill prepared for), it is also the basics you have got wrong. get a grip or get out.

[Madnurse 4 May 2008 09:34:49]

I do feel a little pity for Mr Brown. I suspect that, as is the case with so many top politicians, he is so far removed from ordinary people, he more than likely has not a clue as to what it is like to be struggling under his government's policies and weighed down by his unfair complicated tax system.

I suspect his "spin doctors and advisors" are telling him he is really doing well. He and his ministers, always look so pleased with themselves as they roll off statistics each time they are on television. They don't appear to know how much it is hurting many people as they struggle just to live.

I once saw a play set in a school classroom. One kid fired a marble at the teacher using a catapult. He quickly then threw the catapult to another boy who caught it. When the teacher turned around, he saw the boy with the catapult and blamed him for the attack.
Mr Brown, do you feel you were thrown the catapult by Mr Blair and that now, the teacher, Mr Electorate, is blaming you for Mr Blairs "crime"?

If you could start your premiership again today, would you do anything different?

Do you offer your congratulations to Mr Johmson.

Would Mr Livingston have done better had he not been the offical Labour candidate?

Will you and your government now punish London financially, in much the same way as you do the South East and Home counties through the council tax grant for not backing Labour?

Will you now punish the country for rejecting Labour during the next two years or will you do the right thing for the country and go NOW?

[Robert, Scotland 4 May 2008 09:22:23]

Before Gordon Brown convinces anyone else he is going to change, he must first of all convince himself. The first thing to go, is his delusional thought (up to now) that he had single-handedly done away with "boom & bust", no-one bucks the Market trends. It is a cautionary note on every investment plan, that investments can go down as well as up.
Gordon ignored the grave warning of this in the 2000 "dot.com" bubble burst. When this, combined with him having done away with Private Pension credits all but destroyed this method of people independently making provision for their retirement.
He then compounded this error by opening up the floodgates on un-controlled Government spending. He deluded there was no "bust" so no need to make provision for any in the future.
Even now there is no admission of fault on his part ,it is all down to a downturn in the world economy. Wow! that's something that had never happenened before?
Then it was the American "sub-prime" market and the shady "of-the-books" activities of most banks that were causing our ills. Well when it came to keeping the true picture of debts "of-the-books" Gordon has been a trend setter with his PFI (private finance initiatives).
I live in hope, but, like Alistair Campbell worry that there is something in Gordon's make-up that does not allow him to accept he is wrong and must change.

[Charles, Bucks 4 May 2008 08:38:49]

The most cost effective way and the simplest way to reduce the number of LOSERS and to gain their vote is to raise the personal allowance people can earn before they start to pay income tax and national insurance. By raising it by a mere £300 could potentially relieve some 3,3 million losers.

[G.KING SUSSEX 4 May 2008 08:34:52]

The problem has been that the press for too long sang GB's praises.He has had an easy ride and at long last the press have listened to the people and started being more unbiased towards Labour.

[Ray, Manchester 4 May 2008 08:27:43]

SOCIETY'S MOST VULNERABLE

Pensioners 60 and over - should be given a personal tax allowance of £16000 P.A.

Disabled drivers should be given concessions on fuel. i.e. petrol/diesel.

[Kate Jennings, Nottingham 4 May 2008 08:26:57]

It is not just the 10p Tax Rate. It is the contempt with which this Government holds it's Tax Payers. We are not cash cows. Enough is enough. Ed Balls "so what" comment in response to David Cameron's reply to the Budget speech typifies Labours opinion of us.

The new Road Tax charge is the last straw.

More than enough revenue has been raised bu the motorist. How about all the extra money coming in from Vat on increased fuel prices? Alaistairs Darling next 2p rise in fuel duty will be the straw that broke the camels back.

I would also like to ask Mr Brown about Immigrant Policy.As long as they contribute for 1 year they are entitled to free NHS. I have contributed all my working life, but if I live outside the EU for more than 6 months I lose all mine!

Never mind, I have had enough anyway, I am going to live in Turkey.

[christine 4 May 2008 07:56:48]

after the 10p fiasco,making low paid family,s poorer,what is the point of this self serving snowt in the trough lot,their free john lewis list,my wages only comes to a 1/4 of what they get free,and i still pay 20p tax, i would not vote for this lot ever again,i would rather die first.,what a clueless lot.

[Zeb Macclesfield 4 May 2008 07:56:14]

A major defeat happend to Major and the Tories, it will happen to Brown. Labour have become too complasent, not listening, not learning!!!

Craig,Brown and Labour are finished.The British public has just rejected them in a decisive way.
Look forward to having a conservative government that can reverse the damage that has been done to the country over the last 11 years.