I'm afraid that I fail to see how replacing a fairly simple tax policy statement like "10% up to x, 22% up to y and 40% thereafter" with a myriad of tax credits and rebates simplyfies anything. Surely this just expands the number of civil servants needed to check everyone's returns?

RB, London, UK

Personally, I'm inclined to the view that many already are taking over.

Robert, Hull, East Yorkshire

Eric, Southwick, England, do you ever get that lonely feeling?

Brian Roberts , Plymouth, UK

How is it down to the fault of others that we have a heavily indebted consumer, corporate sector and Government, a heavily over-inflated housing sector and a massive overdependance on the finacial sector? It's been about cheap popular politics with no foresight. Affordable housing.....isn't!

Jim Henderson, London, UK

The fact that Brown wants to stay until the next election is the best news I've heard all day.

Jon Leigh, Safely out of it in rural, France

The bottom line is that Brown (accidentally or not) been in charge during the longest sustained period of economic growth, and paid off more of the national debt than any post-war chancellor.

His problem is he's a terrible communicator.. But people need to calm down, he's not the demon some think

Owen, London, UK

Rattled? I don't like the man's politics or policies, but the person who was rattled was the characteristically arrogant and pompous interviewer. Politicians should all adopt a simple rule: tell the interviewer, on air, "if you interrupt me again, this interview is over..." and mean it.

Nick, Rotherham, UK

All Gordon Brown's decisions are long-term. By the time he gets around to making them, the short-term has long since moved on!

Why did he not simplify the tax system in the Budget, but rush it through later in the year?

John Scott, London,

If GB had any guts he would have sought a proper mandate by holding a general election after he forced TB out.

As for unemployment if you add those on incapacity benefit it totals about 4m, the same as they were added together in the 70's & 80's - there's no real decline in unemployment really.

colin, London, England

Eric of Southwick-Gordon screwed up this economy- we have 1.3 Million less manufacturing jobs, a million more civil ser vice- he took tax from 38% of GDP to 46%, raided pensions by taxing dividends, increased red tape and businesses are leaving when we have in truth 3million unemployed...success?

Phil A, Headley, Hampshire

All this lemming type frenzy of negativity from the tory power seekers,wont change the reality one iota.Gordon Brown has sincerity ,decency and capability on his side and a good track record regarding the economy................A Bullindon Club mentality is certainly not what our country needs.

Eric, Southwick, England

The pm keeps saying that he has protected us from serious problems during his term as chancellor. I don't personally recall any serious financial world problems in the last decade, so maybe someone can enlighten me as to when these events occured & what Brown did to protect us.

Mike gunston, dursley, glos

Not according to the local elections he is not. Talk about being in love with yourself. Greed and vanity we will all suffer.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

It will take more than a lot,and there are a lot,of negative letters towards Gordon Brown, to distort reality.................He is a good Prime Minister with all the character to become a great Prime Minister...........tory hysteria wont change that,logic will kick in prior to the next Election

Eric, Southwick, England

Many people could do my job, too. However, unlike Brown, there seems to be no demand that I make way for hem.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

Considering that Brown;s incompetence created this mess, he is not the one to 'fix' it. No-one in their right mind would ask an arsonist to put out a fire!. Time for some 'serious' help.

Baz, Liverpool, England

Unsustainable levels of personal debt, schools and hospitals all built on the never never of PFI, an illegal and ill-conceived war in Iraq, pension pot raids, closed final salary schemes, tax tax and more tax, companies leaving Britain, collapse in the value of Sterling.

Aye well done Mr Brown.

W Hutchison, Luss, Scotland

I think it is important to remember they have changed the way that inflation is measured effectively halving the rate reported. The real historically comparable rate of inflation is nearer 6%.

Marcus Chidwick, Bedford, UK

Please do not upset GB otherwise Darling will give us another hard time. Just let it be and let them ruin us as their final strategy, they will never get things better so it will get worse, however, if you annoy them then it will get worse sooner than later.

YT, London, UK

Brown is the best asset the Tories have - he will guarantee a Conservative victory.

RB, Aberdeen,

'Best' and 'Others' are the words which interest me - the kind of words I would hear from patients when I was a psychiatric nurse.

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

Many people could take over but would they really want to inherit this shambles Brown would leave them?

chris, brighton,

The truth is that neither David Cameron nor the Liberal Democrats have a clue on how to satisfactorily and substantially address the current ills that have befallen us and in all honesty it has very little to do with Gordon Brown nor his policies; people ought to stop being irrational!

Douglas, London,

There is a difference between being a poor orator and being poor at communicating what you say and being arrogant and ego-driven and think you know best all the time. Time to say 'Bye Gordon'.

David Amerland, Gatley, UK, Cheshire

Brown best man, God help us all.

KW, Bognor Regis, E

"My job is not to be sidetracked by books."

When he does get round to it, might I suggest he curl up with a hot cuppa over Three Men In A (Sinking) Boat, Toad of Whitehall, Gordon With The Wind, Death of A Salesman, and A Tale of Two Cities. Over to you, readers . . .

Mike Armstrong, Macau, China

Good point CB Ross, but he was being interviewed by John Humphries, and that's enough to scare the grammar out of anyone.

Anyway....what about the million poorest working people who are still losing out Brown?

tris, dundee, scotland

Would anyone choose an eye surgeon who was good at rectifying their mistakes?

David Masu, Zürich,

UK tax revenue is about to collapse - Prime Minister Brown will have three choices - slash spending, push the country further into debt or raise taxes. Global price inflation will be blamed. Personal political ego will force him away from meaningful spending cuts, enter more debt and more tax.....

Mark Benson, Kingston upon Thames, UK

Brown should step down, he has lost the respect of the electorate and many members of his own party.

Clive, Dartford, Kent

Words do not always get you out of trouble.

jonathan, wms,

What does Mr Brown mean by "someone" else?
Is he perhaps pondering a Prime Minister in charge of an elected National Government ?

william grierson, Kimpton, UK

Many many times, Brown has claimed to have "abolished boom and bust", and "locked in prosperity".

To claim now that the economy is busting & prosperity falling is due to "international factors" is a pathetic attempt to weasel out of the fact that:

Gordon Brown lied. And he's been caught out.

Ade, Cadiz, Spain

Article quote: "Mr Brown said that his 11 years as Chancellor of the Exchequer qualified him to remain as Prime Minister"

The electorate will be the judge of that Gordon, not you pal - it's called DEMOCRACY, which appears to have disappeared over the last 11 years like our referendum.

Paul, West Midlands,

Chris Dee - Correct, there are many external factors affecting the ongoing economy. However, the ability to weather the storm has been seriously compromised. He was handed a thriving economy and spent many years in a benign economic environment yet has taken the country to the edge of bankruptcy..

James, Dubai, UAE

Have I understood this right: when the economy does well, it's thanks to Brown and his prudent fiscal management but when it does badly, it's due to international factors?

Harry, London,

i will bet anything he has got three months max. they have no chance of getting reelected anytime soon and yet will delay the election until 2010. if they had the best interests of the nation at heart they would call an election and allow the public to say what they really want.

Alex, london, england

Brown says that he could fix the economy again and he is the man. In 197 economy was performing well . He did not fix it as the world economy has been booming for 10years. If he had kept some money without throwing all of it at unreformed NHS blackhole, the country would be in a better shape.

Gary Smith, LONDON,

For 10 years Brown was happy to be basking in all the credit for economic growth that was supposedly nothing to do with external world factors. Why should down be any different to up. Face it man, you've blown it, and this country, well and truly up.

Roy, Wolverhampton, England (not Scottingdom)

The one constant about Gordon Brown is his belief, against all evidence, that he is the best man for the job of PM. His ego is so far in advance of his abilities, and his contempt for his Labour colleagues so naked, he will remain regardless of the cost to his party. Labour should oust him for that.

Manuel , London,

Actually that's monday june the second, thousands of people expected already. Come along and have your say it's not by sitting at home that we're going to make things change.

06/02/08 10.30am in front of westminster

John, Bristol, United Kingdom

brown plummetted this country into a defecit during the best of times and guess what? those times are now over, raising taxes now would be catostrophic, and we are officially screwed for the next few years. shrink the state, shrink the welfare handouts, and reinstill personal responsibility.

Alex, London, England

Brown lowered the 22p tax rate for a popularity boost before elbowing Blair out of No 10. It was Cameron who pointed out that the 10p rate had also been quietly axed and it was bad news for the poor. Six months later and Frank Field finally catches up. Tax, Gordon. That's why no will vote for you.

George Smith, London,

I also think Brown is in some way responsible for the bizarre phenomenon that is whenever I put down my ipod's earphones (to answer the phone, toilet etc) when I pick them up again the R one is never in my right hand, and the L is never in my left.... Never happened when Blair was minding the shop..

John, Bournemouth, UK

Whether Gordon Brown was such a good Chancellor is really debatable but even if he was, that certainly does not automatically mean he would make a good Prime Minister. There is a real difference between the Chief Executive and the Head of Finance and Gordon Brown just does not have the personality.

Stephen , London,

Why doesn't he just go and take his incompetent colleagues with him? For God's sake, stop prolonging the agony of this country and the majority of the public. Let's try to get back to some semblance of normality, far from the worn out and disreputable ideologies of "New Labour."

R.B., Leicester,

Well there's Gordon Brown's opinion and then there's a group of people called the electorate who just possibly might have a different view. Shall we ask them?

John Begoode, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

I love the article about the depth of their snit. Good stuff. You Brits are fortunate that you had/have chaps with some competence. At least you are not saddled with The Grand Dunce from Crawford, Tet,sas or his bi-polar side-kick, our VP Dr. Strangelove. We have to live with their "strateeegerie".

Ken, Emerald Isle, NC, USA/North Carolina

Gordon Brown still the best man for the job? I suppose even Prime ministers are allowed to have phantasies.

dave , chelmsford, UK

Brown was always un-electable as PM. The only way he could get the job was via the back door no matter how much Old Labour love him. He will always be a liability.

If you drop your guard and your oponent lands a punch its not his fault its yours. Brown IS responsible for the mess.

Dan, London, UK

More lrgislation to counter the damaging effects of previous legislation. What is this, government by Satnav.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

Everyone meet up in a protest march in front of parliament at 10.30am on Monday june the 1st to challenge the unelected pm's legitimaty.

John, Bristol, United Kingdom

I think difficult times can make someone into much more than they would otherwise have been, because if they succeed it will astound everyone. People will soon forget the bad times; from the Times' cartoons only a few months ago you would have thought the Conservatives would remain hopeless failures

iain carstairs, bedford, uk

The reason that the economy is going wrong is partly because of a normal downturn, and partly because grotesquely reckless financial mismanagement, including catastrophically huge budget deficits during an economic boom, have left the economy in a very poor position to deal with such a downturn.

James E. Petts, Burnham, England

He is right, Labour could easily have a woman leader at the next election and i think alot of the public would welcome a change.

henrietta, Henley,

Rupert the bear could take over and would make a better job than you or any of your useless Government.

Roger, Surrey,

Useless man is at last seen for what he is and always has been.

john, lincoln,

Mr Brown, international factors aside, it was you have brought the UK to its current sorry economic standing. It was your policy of high personal and government debt which has left us overly vulnerably to international conditions. Your mantra was no boom and bust, but you have delivered both.

A Hariis, Ketteing, UK

Even now he is in denial. These aren't "mistakes" they are illustrations of his abject arrogance - the "I'm always right" syndrome which, as he has ably demonstrated on many occasions, he certainly is not.
Sad to say I listened to his "presentation" yesterday. Impossible to deduce what he proposed.

A.Williams, Cradley Heath,

Brown is not a good orator, but he is most probably a man of substance. I hope he still maintains his distance from the politically immature USA, who needs to deal with their own problems and not pass them on to us to absorb, for a dollars loan, which is a short term fix, with long term consequence

Mark, Yorkshire,

Brown is a spent force & is ONLY interested in self interest and the well-being of Scotland (if this isn't the case lets see equal money spent in England as is spent in Scotland
The sooner he goes the better we'll all be 4 it.
Still he says all was well with him & Blair, treating us all like idiots

D Dobson, Wokingham, England

Brown is actually right, many of the problems with the economy are down to the events in the US,not because of his leadership.But who wants to listen to reason?
Unfortunately for him the sheep in our 'independent' media, as they are wont every few years, are in grips of a feral feeding frenzy.

chris dee, london,

The UK seems to have a short memory regarding economic well-being: the Tories tore this country apart in the 80's and early nineties with their 'get-the-rich-richer' schemes and corruption. Brown is by no means perfect but his stance that the economic problems are a global paradigm are correct.

Noel McLaughlin, Chester,

The mere fact that this is being talked about openly - what now after Brown, suggests that he may just do that [alledgedly]. The same speculation around 'What now after Blair!' Brown may find his 'second wind' and decide to tough it out until 2010. More shambolic policies still to come!

B Clark, Chelmsford, England

The best man to bodge up Britain, yes I agree with that!

Tom, St. Albans, England

"When we made mistakes over the fall out, we have rectified them."
ONLY after being bludgeoned into it.
BUT this legislation was made over a YEAR AGO. It has taken them all that time to work it out. They "thought"; in cases like this it is essential to KNOW the result before putting both feet in

M. Cawdery, Portadown, Co. UK, EU

It is utterly revolting to see politicians playing with peoples' livelihoods. British house prices are about 30% over-valued and a Labour government is trying to get the vulnerable to buy over-valued assets. I don't think I have ever seen anything so unprincipled.

mark mcfarland, london, uk

"My job is not to be sidetracked by books." I thought that the job of the Prime Minister was to lead the government in the running of the country. A basic command of the language would have had him say that "It is not my job to be sidetracked by books". Wish I could expand, but not enough space!

C.B.Ross, Motherwell,, Lanarkshire

Mr Brown has been insisting since taking over, unelected, that he is just there to "get on with the job" however evidence over the past 12 months shows that he is incapable of doing a good job ! Time to go Gordon !

susan, glasgow,