Do we live in an age of hatred? Or has the language of political insult simply become more extreme? Tap the words “I hate Gordon Brown” into Google, and it comes up with 1,490,000 entries. David Cameron rates 611,000, Nick Clegg is well behind on 167,000 and Alex Salmond limps in on 71,000.
The internet does, of course, encourage extreme reaction - or perhaps just the reaction of extremists - but some of the online comments made about public figures today are the kind you might once have expected to see confined to the mad threats of a serial killer. I would like to think that these electronic ramblings are simply a safety valve for lunatics, but the explicitly personal insult is not confined to internet sites. There is a quality of venom about political commentary on both sides of the Atlantic that seems out of proportion to the performances of those on the receiving end, and cannot wholly be explained by the febrile climate of the times.
Mr Brown is now the object of what can only be described as a feeding frenzy that goes well beyond criticism of his political indecision, the handling of the Northern Rock affair and the errors he admits to, such as the 10p tax fiasco. It is fuelled too by party infighting and the paying off of ancient scores; given the long-running rivalry between him and Tony Blair, and the opportunity for John Prescott, Cherie Blair and the oleaginous Lord Levy to sell their memoirs on the back of it, the resulting bitterness should not surprise us. But none of that quite explains the personal vitriol.
Here is one sentence, culled from a recent national newspaper leader (OK, the Daily Express, which some might argue scarcely qualifies for the name): “They [British voters] know their Premier to be a neurotic, dysfunctional mediocrity; an insecure Stalinist who worships power but cannot take a decision; a moral and political coward who tries to fill the vacuum at the heart of his leadership with blustering rhetoric and adolescent bullying.”
Elsewhere, the barely concealed suggestions that Mr Brown is psychologically flawed, even autistic, possibly mad, that he cannot communicate, is hopelessly insecure, an inept loner incapable of running his own life let alone that of the nation, is the regular stuff of Tory attacks. In their intensity and their personal character, they are surely unprecedented in postwar politics.
North of the Border, Mr Brown's colleague, Wendy Alexander, leader of the Scottish Labour Party, is subject to the same hysterical reaction. She too has been guilty of poor judgment and some rash policy statements that she has lived to regret. But it is now routine to describe her as “unstable,” “neurotic” and - yes, that word again - “mad”.
In America, the extremism is, if anything worse, with both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton the object of ferocious criticism. Mrs Clinton's policies may be anathema to Republicans, and even to some Democrats, but the dislike she engenders goes well beyond the purely political. Those who have referred to her over the past few months as a “monster,” “evil”, “sinister,” “the bitch” “deceitful” and “congenital liar” appear to be suggesting that she has personal flaws that damage her not just as a candidate for the presidency but as a human being.
She is not the first presidential candidate to have veered occasionally from the truth, but is she uniquely dishonest, or does she attract added hostility simply because she is a woman - and a Clinton? How ironic that the wife of the man who first coined the phrase “the politics of personal destruction” should now be the victim of it.
The language used against Mr Obama is less overt, but just as deadly. The implication that behind the charm and the eloquence stands a man who hates America, is secretly a Muslim and therefore dangerous to the security of the nation, is rarely spelt out openly, but it hovers between the lines of right-wing commentary, and barely conceals the streak of racism that runs through it. If he wins the nomination, this is the theme that will be peddled with ever-greater ferocity by his opponents.
Where does all this come from? Nothing in the personal qualities of political figures of the day, however deficient they may be, justifies this level of abuse. Lampooned figures in the past - Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, Jim Callaghan and John Major among them - were, from time to time, enveloped in crises every bit as damaging as those that confront Mr Brown. But never were they subjected to such woundingly ad hominem attacks.
It could be that our society feels more threatened than it used to, that we seek to pin the blame for our own insecurity on the failures of our leaders. But are they as uniquely inefficient or even deranged as we seem to suggest? And are we really more prone to fear than we were in the days when nuclear attacks threatened and the Cold War enveloped us?
The more likely truth is that we live in a society that has thrown off many of the constraints that once governed public life, and where personal abuse has become a routine part not just of politics but of sport, entertainment and journalism. It may be that we are compensating for the culture of deference that marked us in the past; but if that is so, we have gone well over the top. Hatred is a strong word. It should be reserved for our real enemies, not imagined ones. Used too often, and too lightly, it ceases to have any meaning.
We should also remember that these political figures are also human beings. I cannot imagine what Mr Brown - to say nothing of Mrs Brown - feels when he reads the daily litany of insults delivered to his door. I imagine he suffers.
“If you prick us, do we not bleed?” asked Shylock; even prime ministers, I guess, have feelings. The time has come to add a new dimension to public life, one that might counterbalance the present vogue for all-out aggression. We could call it something dramatically new. What about the politics of compassion?
So then, Mr. Linklater, Barack Obama should be exempt from criticism because any criticism of him is obviously founded on racism?
Geoff Miller, Boulder Creek, CA, USA
Hatred should be reserved for our real enemies????
Get a life. Brown is an enemy of this country and its people.
I dont hate him though. Just loath and detest is all.
cliff arkley, rye, sussex
I think that this is simply a part of the broader phenomenon which is the 'age of the superlative'. I would argue that the negative 'vitriolic abuse' about which Magnus comments is in fact the natural response and counterbalance to the 'deification' of which Gerard Baker comments in his column today
Dominic Graham de Montrose, London,
Politicians have descended to a very low level morally. Therefore can it not be expected that attacks upon them reach the same low levels of behavoir? The answer surely must be better educated, more intelligent and morally decent politicians.
Then again I do like to dream!!
Kenneth Wheatley, St Pée sur Nivelle, France
How dare anybody say anything nasty about Commissar-Dictator Brown.
Jim, London,
GB infuriates me, how can he refuse to see the pink elephant that is staring him in the eye. You know I used to think that a goverments job is to do the best it can for its people, to listen to the people and to protect its people. What a shock i had leaving school, this democracy is a joke!
mark, london,
Google now returns 2,390,000 hits!
tone, cambridge,
At the end of the day, can we do better than the people we attack, if we had to do it?
ian cheese, london, uk
I think that one of the main reasons for the hatred of Gordon Brown is that he has, over the years,been guilty of deceit over tax increases,and bullying when questioned about the measures.Link this with the overwhelming arrogance of his ministers when questioned over policies. they are always right.
Brian, Gillingham, Dorset
No mention of George W Bush? Now there's a "political" figure deserving of personal attack.
Steve, Aberdeen, Scotland
I actually disagree with you Magnus - look at 18th century English history, the age of the broadsheet, look at the intense rivalry between Pope and Lord Hervey, the vitriol and mockery.
Admittedly, they were wittier in those days, I think the difference now is that people are just plain rude.
Richard, London,
if you google it properly - the sentence with speechmarks at both ends, you get:
Brown: 150
Cameron 135
Salmond 5
Clegg 1
... the others are all just mixed articles.
tom, lancs,
Today, much more than in the past, people expect politicians to solve all problems, from climate change to peak oil & growing world food shortages. But if they did this effectively the measures would be unpopular. They would be voted out, so they don't do it. (But Brown has been incompetent).
Dave, Wrexham,
Where is the evidence that things are worse than they used to be?
Thatcher, Major, Hague, IDS, Howard, Cameron - all have been subject to viscious ad hominem attack from labour and from Gordon Brown.
Does Magnus expect the tories to just sit back and take it all the time?
Michael, London, UK
This article seems to ignore the fact that political satire and 'abuse' has been as bad or much worse even in the past. In the 18th century for instance. If politicians are servants of the people and have failed them, lied to them, robbed them and disappointed them, then why not make feelings known.
Donald, Maidstone,
Brown is paying the price for the Blair years: spin , deceit, unwarranted 'feel good' factor & an unjustified foreign adventure.
ian cheese, london, uk
Frustration is the reason. Politicians are arrogant, all powerful and mistrusting of their own people. Look at GB with his stealth tax policies. He's wielded the sword over us for 11 years. Now, when the word and vote are getting a fleeting day in the sun, how can anyone complain, Magnus?
Nick, London, UK
Bad opinions of Brown are entirely justified. His refusal to deliver the EU Referendum with pathetic excuses for ignoring the wishes of the people coupled with his tax mania justify the result he has received.
C J Wales, Shawbury, England
I have just got round to reading this article. The author must live in a sheltered environment if he finds the attacks on Brown in any way extraordinary. Possibly he should check out some of the more outspoken US sites if he wants to experience real vituperation The target is of course President Bush and those surrounding him.
Politicians are fair game and always have been. Brown is no exception. In fact he has got off fairly lightly by comparison with some of his contemporaries
Fabian Olins, LONDON , England
It's quite obvious why so much bad comment is directed at Broon - people have only recently realised (about 8 years too late) that he has been a profligate chancellor leading the country into levels of public sector debt that will make it very diificult for the next government to lower taxes.
jorg, Yeoford, Ghana
I'm wondering 8 yrs down the line when David Cameron has out grown his good looks & glamour & everyone realised damn he bought the whole thatcherite bunch with him and privatised health care, transport etc which only care about profits and oooh remember the days of labour we never had it so good!!
Simon, Luton,
"Where does all the hate come from?" It is a question asked by the journalist. It comes most probably from the opposition party and big business who in turn influence the press to make sure that their will be a change of political party in power in Britain in the future.
Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia
he did well during an economic boom...a time when a monkey could keep an economy afloat and now the economy is going down the drain. the public is taxed out, the deficit is growing, and he is looking for desperate and stealth ways to raise money...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this
Alexander , London, England
Yes, yes the Tories, then we'll see etc - Well, if I had a lodger who stole all my money, tossed me out of my own home for smoking and threw bombs at my neighbour's kids then I'd boot him out. And if my only available replacement was called Dave then I'd have to give him the room. With a warning.
Adrian, Wantage,
Big Brown is apparently all the rage for the Preakness tomorrow : the nearest to being a winner for dear Gordon.Maybe he should put the country's shirt on it to replenish our gold reserves,after all he has gambled our futures away.
Sam Duncan, Hove,
what is really bothering english people is that gordon brown(an extremely capable man) is scottish.i now ask those same people a very simple question.if you will not vote for a scotsman then why should the people of scotland vote for an englishman?enter the SNP and independence for both countries.
john reilly, glasgow,
One of the causes for the increase in personal vitriol might be the fact that the modern politician makes a far greater attempt to "connect" to the electorate in a simulation of personal contact. The resulting familiarity often (sometimes deservedly) breeds contempt.
Gervas Douglas, Andorra la Vella,
I disagree strongly with the authour. These creatures have brought it on themselves - sleazy, cosseted behind padded salaires, contemptuous of those they serve. They hide from direct contact with their electors and this is just reward - they get off far too lightly.
Michael Broers, Oxford, UK
David of Stourbridge; Bob, London; malice-motivated people (e.g. people like you) will get a big surprise when David Cameron proves not to be he Saviour in whom they have believed. The electorate have been encouraged by the media to be irrational. Can't find your car keys? Blame Gordon Brown!
Dectora, London, UK
Why such vitriole? For the last 10 years or so the British public has been lied to cheated and bled dry, and every failure is glossed over with tons of smarmy lies. The truth is that GB is fundamentally dishonest and has been found out; he deserves his drubbing.
jeremiah, london,
Margaret Thatcher probably had some of the most vitriolic comments about her I have ever heard made about a Political Leader.
I
Walter, London,
I agree that politicians are treated terribly by the general public and the media. Mrs Thatcher led this country to recession and, poverty and high unemployment. Gordon Brown has not done this, the current gripes we have are minor in comparison. Politicians are expected to be perfect, it's unfair.
Bev, Bristol,
The vitriol being hurled at Brown is totally justified. Having, up to now, been broadly regarded as having been a success as chancellor the public and press now realise that this was a total fallacy and we are now reaping what has been sown over the past decade.
peter close, berwick-upon-tweed, uk
Powerlessness! Simply the feeling of being ignored & dismissed, we resort to the atavistic condition of 'name calling'
maurice brady, worcester, england
I agree with the thrust of the article. Humphreys in his interview with the PM yesterday went way beyond good interview grilling. My reaction was one of anger and sadness that a PM was subjected this form of harassment which was a mix of On the Ropes & In the Psych. Chair.
This is now the norm
eileen walton, swansea, wales
"A narrow mind has a broad tongue."
Sounds like a load of rubbish to me - people are upset, you obviously choose to either deny or ignore that.
Alex, London,
Nothing is based on fact anymore. Cameron was classed as a no-hoper until the proposal to cut inheritance tax was announced and suddenly he, and all his policies, were a winner. Have people really only just discovered Brown's personality recently or has it changed since the NorthernRock/10p tax issu
Chrsi Jay, Whitchurch, Shropshire
Consummate politician Blair, EXCUSE ME! Give me G.B. any day. No flashy wife,spin doctors,no superego. Just an intelligent,caring family man doing his best. Read all comments - no volunteers then? When you can do better then you can criticise.
Phoebe, Manchester, Lancashire
Gatz in Chelmsford,
Generalisation - I suspect you'd probably find many people are only too happy to stand up and be counted for their comments, even if it does involve comrade brown ensuring they make his "list"! Interesting that you use the word coward and post under a highly ambiguous name.
Alex Morris, London,
The premise of this article completely evaporates when you realise that the writer doesn't know how a search engine works!! The sentence on a webpage "I hate the attacks on Gordon Brown" would show up among his 1490000 'I hate Gordon Brown' instances.
Rod Jones, cardiff,
I hate motherhood = 2,060,000 hits;
I hate apple pie = 1,360,000 hits;
So Gordon Brown is loved more than motherhood, but less than apple pie!
James, Edinburgh,
Most of these comments are missing the point: it's not about what Brown or anyone else has done, but the vindictive and aggressive manner of the criticism. Such savagery is commonplace in online discussion - it's called 'flaming' - and it ensures that any more caring or gentle person is excluded.
Lyn, Birmingham,
And, if the opportunity arose, I'd say what I thought about him to his face. Gordon and his Party are the biggest letdown in modern politics. Things could only get better, they proclaimed!! Not for the ordinary, decent working man or woman they haven't. Its time to tell them they are fired!
Robyn, Aberdeen, Scotland
As noted by others below, this is hilariously idiotic. To add to the fun, I tried typing "I hate Mother Theresa" into google (without the quotes). Yields 1,080,000 hits. So by this logic she is somewhat less hated than Brwon, but much more despised than Cameron.
Dave, London,
People are angry. Political correctness has throttled their freedom of speech; every comment or joke is now judgedd racist or sexist. Their politicians have lied to them, especially over the EU, and they feel loss of control over their destiny. The internet allows these people to let off steam.
oldasiahand, Guildford, UK
Generally speaking, insults and vituperative character assassination have, sadly, become commonplace in our society. It must be hellish for those on the receiving end. These folks can, perhaps, draw some solace from this Arabian proverb:
"A narrow mind has a broad tongue."
Dilip Dhokia, Bradford, UK
I don't hate Gordon Brown, but I hate the way he lies transparently "there will be no losers", dodges reasonable questions with platitudes, takes credit when things go well, shirks responsibility when they go wrong, sees dissenters as fools, believes he is an intellectual colossus with a vision.....
Neil McF, Southampton, England
There really is nothing new about this - go back to the 18th century and read the vicious lampoons of political leaders published then. In any case, Brown deserves it. He deserves it for IR35, he deserves it for selling our gold at rock bottom prices and he deserves it for robbing our pensions.
Richard Marriott, Worcester, England
i agree with magnus linklater.what about compassion indeed.
though harold wilson did have it somewhat worse.when the media fell out of love with him they were venemous
cohen, london, uk
Tom Mein,
Have you not thought that your pension pot might be a little larger if you hadn't retired before the age of 43?
ps How is the sun in Crete?
Phil, London,
Searching for "I hate Magnus Linklater" produces no results.
Searching without quotes produces 11,300 results.
Here's one of them: "I said that Magnus Linklater's conclusion, that ... the World Trade Centre would represent some of the things Islamists hate"
Stinging!
Ismael Klata, Edinburgh,
The real puzzle is why the media were always nice to Tony Blair. They never really ragged him as they do other politicians. Was it that he and his minions were experts in manipulating the media or was it just an instinctive liking for 'one of us'?
Frank Upton, Solihull,
Ask any post Gordon Brown pensioner whether the Hatred of Brown is excessive and I think the answer would be that no hatred of the man can equal the amouth he has earnt by his actions.
D Cage, Highworth, Wilts
I agree with most of the commentors.
Gordon Brown and his rabble have nothing but contempt for this electorate. They are absolutely not interested in doing the right thing for this country.
Respect needs to be earnt and I am afraid this labour government has earnt none.
rob, derby, uk
What has happened is that the media had an utterly unjustified love in with Brown since the mid nineties, those who have known all along he was useless are finally being heard and everyone else is feeling betrayed.
He deserves every bit of the aprobrium directed at him
Edward Green, Upminster, UK
Virtually anyone who appears in a newspaper with a comments section is subject to ridicule, vitriol and seemingly hatred from people who only know them from the slant placed on their lives by that particular publication.
Ask anyone, from the McCanns to the Beckhams; all are pilloried.
Dave, Edinburgh, UK
Magnus, you seem to think politicos deserve respect. How many are not self-serving, untrustworthy, venal, mendacious, often inept and grotesquely unwilling to take decent steps to clear up their own houses? You were raised in an age which confused decency with deference. I wasn't and don't.
Chris, London,
Why so many people are vitriolic re Brown is simply that he boasts about his chancellorship. when , in order to keep the economy bubbling, he spent their futures by stealing their pensions, allowing the banks to drive vunerable people into debt and selling the family silver(ie Gold).
Brian, Ashford, UK
The roots of this vitriol are manifold and deep: sometimes frustration and stress over serious issues (such as State interference leading to destruction of pensions), sometimes a desire to humiliate others purely for pleasure. The media, politicians and lobby groups cynically fan the flames.
David C , Brussels , Belgium
So long as Britain's main political party leaders increasingly conspire to run Britain as a plutocracy rather than as a democracy Blair and Brown (then Cameron and Clegg) will be be on the receiving end of ever increasing levels of vitriol from the disenfranchised among us - I hope we wake up soon.
Jojo, Glos,
Bizarre that in commenting on the US that you do not mention the irrational loathing heaped on George Bush by lefties & other illiberals. But of course he is a 'right wing' Republican & what journalist is going to criticise vitriolic hatred of them?
George, Wolverhampton,
I love Gordon Brown gives 2,400,000 hits!
I think that's the first positive personal rating he's had for a while - all thanks to you, Mr Linklater, and your inability to use Google properly....
Dave, Edinburgh, UK
To those complaining about the raid on pensions tax allowances by GB, please remember that the poor are poor now. And they can vote now. GB and TB will be long gone when you draw your pension.
Colin, shrewsbury,
I think Brown is the type of politician who provokes people to be openly hostile and do a lot of spleen venting. He refuses to admit to making mistakes, he doesn't apologise, he hasn't even congratulated Boris Johnson on his win. I cannot remember a more distant, detached and arrogant politician.
martin, London, England
Magnus: you don't understand how search engines work...
Try:
"I hate Gordon Brown" - 158 hits
"I hate David Cameron" - 155 hits
"I hate Nick Clegg" - 1 hit
You see, without the quote marks, Google is just looking for the individual words in any order, anywhere on the page.
Steve L, St Albans,
Did you never watch Spitting Image?
Richard, Oxford, UK
10 Years of socialist lying, cheating, stealing, not listening and more taxes plus poor schools, more taxes, poor transport, more taxes, poor policing, more taxes, pathetic laws, mass immigration, more taxes, and big brother are just a few of the reasons vitriolic hatred is directed at GB.
David Thijm, Stourbridge, UK
I'd say Gordon gets off pretty lightly.
If you were to put his incompetance on a graph, and compare it to a graph of intensity of the personal insults used, you'd see I'm right
Dominic, Manchester, UK
The mainstream media is only trying to match the blog boards, where anonymity gives cowardly posters freedom to be far more abusive than they would be face to face. It's an unwelcome and unedifying development.
Gatz, Chelmsford, UK
I think Michael Heseltine' remark in the House suits Mr Linklater's article - "This is not Blair, this is balls."
Colin, London,
I remember a headline at the start of the first Gulf War, in a tabloid, I think it was the Sun: 'We'll nuke it (Iraq) until it's just not there'. Another said: 'We'll nuke it until it's just talcum powder'.
These struck me as not exactly being in the Enlightenment tradition of rational debate!
devorgilla, Edinburgh, UK
This is a Murdoch publication and, as such, it promotes the idea of 'no change'. Murdoch and his banking friends must be slightly worried about the mood of the nation. After all, it's not in their interests for there to be radical change in the system. They want us to continue compliant.
Neville Howles, Birmingham, UK
Broon deserves all he gets. Taxing the poor to fund a sweetner for the rich, aye that will help him to win friends and influence people! And, having been brought up in his constituency, Kirkcaldy, I can assure you no-one speaks with that mangled accent. Has he been having elocution lessons?
Robyn, Aberdeen, Scotland
I am 54 years old I have watched my pension pot drop in value from £200 per week to £63 per week since 1997. So you want me to say that he is not really such a bad chap after all?
Tom Mein, Chorafakia, Crete
People of Phoenix, Arizona are speaking.... ignore them...
Jonathan, London,
Where did Mr. Linklater live in the 1980s, when worse things were said, printed and broadcasted about Thatcher in the UK or Reagan in the US? Comments about Mr. Bush (jun.) were also not all that nice over the past years, nor were many about Mr. Clinton, when he was in office. Nothing has changed.
Adrian, London, UK
Mr Brown might be held in higher esteem if the country had been given the opportunity to vote for him. Instead he was given the job on a plate by the labour party which resulted in both losing the respect of the voters.
Simon Marshland, Bath, UK
I was deeply shocked to hear Alan Duncan on BBC Question Time last night tell a lady in the audience that "....you need your head examined."
Politicians should understand that many people follow their example. Its about time politicians led in a dignified direction.
Alan Robinson, Bjerreby, Denmark
Brown was not voted for PM. He ducked an election! We are stuck with him (temporarily at least) because the cowards in the Labour Party let him have the position unapposed. He then lied & broke a Manifesto promise. If politicians want to be treated with respect then they should behave honourably.
Donna Walker, Effingham, England
Have a look at Georgian political cartoons if you want to see really vitriolic political comment. There is nothing new in today’s attitudes to politicians.
Peter, Newbury, UK
Society is angry - we see it everywhere in the levels of violent behaviour. Why? Well, most probably because the public think no one is listening to them. And that is why attacks against incapable politicians are fair game. In response to this article, Tough, Tough, Tough! Get the message?
Richard, Plymouth,
Actually if you type "I hate Gordon Brown" into Google in quotation marks as specified you only get 122 entries. Without the quotation marks google brings up entries for each individual word.
James Jackson, Denpasar,
Thanks to Gordon Brown's raid on our pensions my wife and I will each have to work for five extra years - and you are surprised that he attracts such vitriol?
Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK
I am no fan of Gordon Brown, but the dreadful way that John Humphries attacked him this morning on Radio 4 was disgraceful. What makes broadcasters think that we want to hear our politicians being bullied into submission. What was Humphries trying to achieve? Tongue-tied Brown had my sympathy.
Genie, Leeds,
Duh. "i hate black swans" in Google gives 1.6m hits: it's giving hits for "hate" "black" "swans" and "i" separately. You need to put quotes around the phrase. If you do that, you'll find that there are 121 hits for Gordon Brown and 178 for David Cameron.
Kay Tie, York,
People of the UK are speaking. - listen..
Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA
Five out of ten for this one Mr Linklater. Look to the past and you will find worse insults couched in more flowery language.
As for Brown and Alexander, I agree with all the remarks you quote. I think they have got off rather lightly and predict worse to come for them should they hang on
Alistair McDonald, Motherwell, Scotland
Voters can respect a good politician or a good statesmen. Gordon Brown is neither.
He displaced a consummate politician and passable statesman because he thought he had a right to run the UK. He's now found out that he's not up to the mark and the voters will punish the Labour Party for that.
David, Dubai, UAE
What marks out Mr Brown from the others you mention is his long term insistence that he is the best person to be Prime Minister. It is the gap between his perception of his suitability for this office and the public's judgement of it that is the problem.
Adam, Oxford, UK
Magnus misses the point.The voting public do not want a Labour government (2005 was hardly a massive vote of confidence) and the PM is a lightning rod for disaffection.He is unpleasant and has a massively overblown reputation as Chancellor. He is a proven incompetent. Why blame us for hating him.
Roger, esher, UK
Politicians everywhere exhibit lower standards than before. Gordon Brown's budget speeches have been a litany of obfuscation. How many of his100+ tax increases have been announced in Parliament; he reaps the contempt that he sowed.
Tony G, Newark,
Hmmm, I recall a certain Mrs Thatcher faring far worse at the hands of the press.
As for Brown, possibly if his character flaws weren't so self evident, and becoming more so over time?
But, even so. This is reality - if he can't deal with it, he should, as the saying goes, get out of the kitchen.
Chris, St Leonards, UK
That's because the damage done to us by Gordon Brown has reached an extend undreamt of in previous political eras. Many of us will suffer poverty in old age having saved for a lifetime DIRECTLY as a result of Brown's actions. This man deserves every bit of abuse he gets. And more.
Dave, Notts, UK
All I can say is that you must live in a rarified atmosphere if you don't understand why people are so mad.
Secondly, the people love to throw rotten tomatoes at their 'betters' given the chance.
Blogs give us that chance/voice, suck it up.
Bob, London, England