For several years Gordon Brown systematically undermined and destroyed Tony Blair's confidence. Now he is going to find out how it feels, there is a god after rall.

Brian Roberts , Plymouth, Devon UK

Non-rhetorical question: Are the Conservative and LD Parties any less schiztophrenic? If the answer is no, the next election could be as messy as the US'. If the answer is yes, the Labour Party's sanity could return--after a portion of its members abandon it for their fellow believers elsewhere.

Michael, Pueblo, Colorado, US

So according to Jill Rees "Gordon Brown is secretly an excellent Prime Minister". Our leaders in Europe will undoubtedly agree with her and presumably the 20 per cent of the electorate that still supports New Labour. As for the rest of us, perhaps she can let us in on the "secret" .

Callan, Liverpool, England

I just want to vote for a socialist political party, I just can't find one!

Trevor, Sheffield, England (sinking fast)

It seems to me that the Labour has always been about class war - take that away and what is there left?

James Elliott, Eastbourne, UK

There are a lot of sad - and deluded Labour supporters here. Gordon is a poor leader because he has exposed the reality of the Labour party and the scourge of socialism to the gullible morons who voted for the party 3 times in the hope that New meant better. Maybe they'll engage brains in 2010?

David Thijm, Stourbridge, UK

In 1997 Tony Blair said there was just 24 hours to save the NHS. 11 years on and after billions spent Labour would rather a person died than allow co-payment. Like Stalinist Russia, Labour wants to save the system more than the people. This is worse than party politics.

Anthony, London,

I wish Mr Brown would call a general election, at least after that we would have a prime minister with a mandate, not this dithering macavity.

Patrick Henderson, Coventry,

The next crisis for Gordon Brown will come from a very traditional source. Forget the 42 days business, all the dithering, the infighting and the plotting. When the Tories win Henley on Thames, the vital thing for Labour will be to save its deposit - if it can't even do that. Gordon is kaput.

Alan Gooch, Honiton,

At a recent local government election it was more than a little disheartening to hear new councillors indicate that they regarded their new appointment as a sideshow until they could be 'nominated for candidacy as an MP'!! This from all parties successful candidates. Trough Syndrome methinks!

Ken Herbert, Aylesford, England

The only posible way they can get the public vote is strive for civil liberties.

We want to live in a free country in all sences of the word, we see Labour another brick in the wall now as they've swayed over to tolitarian status.

Wake up Labor, we WILL GET FREEDOM!

Andy T, North East, England,

I for one hope he clings to the sinking ship for as long as he physically can and in doing so hammers in the final few nails in labour's coffin (excuse the mixed metaphors!) - that way the Tories are almost certain to get in next time... Go Gordon!

Sarah, London,

There is no way Brown is going to recover. At the next election, he (or his successor) will have the pants beaten off him and the Tories will get in for at least two parliaments, i.e. they'll be in power until about 2020 at least. And Scottish independence = bye bye Labour majority at Westminster.

ben foster, penley,

It is very clear that a year or eighteen months of either Mr Miliband or Mr Purnell in Downing Street will sink that great fellow Cameron. Come on Gordon lad, push off!

Stuart Williams, Burry Port, Wales

Labour cannot expect to just keep changing their leaders until they find the right man. The electorate is fed up.--- WE need a say in the next Prime Minister, therefore an election is required.

Phil, Preston,

Good article. These days it's very difficult to see what the Labour party is FOR.

Russell, London,

O yes, Gordon Browns intellect, not to mention the sporting prowess of John Prescot. The wit and wisdom of Hazel blears,and the green fingered magic of Margaret Becket. The list is endless.

Victor, London, UK

Can we get past this Brown is intellegent arguement.
He vastly overestimates his own intellegence, which is why banks are failing left right and centre and the government is bankrupt.
What did Brown give us?
10 years of cheap credit and the resulting inflation boom.

Dominic, Manchester, England

The word "intellect" is much over used as though it meant the same as "intelligent". Intelligent implies also practical commonsense and there is little sign that Brown has that trait. More cunning than clever perhaps?

Victor Southern, Swanley, UK

Where does this idea come from that Gordon Brown is a towering intellect? His idea for the independence of the Bank of England failed miserably at the first hurdle and is still failing. He sold all the nations gold at rock bottom prices and still claims he made money in the Euro (+25% vs gold +300%)

Robin, London,

Paul Francis of Brisbane: don't knock Skodas. I drive one and, unlike this government, they work.

IAN GIRVAN, DUNKERTON, ENGLAND

Intellect he may have, but he's misused it, to tax us, create the big mega-expensive "Nanny State" of non-jobs and busybodies and leave us powerless to run our own lives in the threat of knife crime and lawlessness. A real leader creates an environment for the best initiatives and people to flourish

Phil A, Headley, UK

The Labour Party is dead: the appointment of Gordon Brown as leader simply accellerated its demise. Scotland electors have already recognised that fact. John Murdoch and Keir Hardie, founders of the Scottish Labour Party in 1888, would have been horrified by New Labour's betrayal of their ideals.

Peter Curran, Kirkliston, West Lothian

A typically brilliant and well-informed piece of analysis from Rachel - one more reason to buy the Times rather than the Telegraph!

James, London,

Most people don't think very much about politics or the state of the Labour Party, it's only when life starts to pinch a little bit too much that they want change. Also, how could you have confidence in a party £19M in the red?

jeremiah, London,

Gordon Brown's 'vision' only ever amounted to being Prime Minister. The same was true of Tony Blair, but at least he had some idea of how to be one. Gordon has expended all his intellect and energy reaching the summit of his Mount Everest, and now does not have anywhere to go but down.

Alan Gooch, Honiton,

New Labour always had an identity issue about its supposed egalitarian views. Opportunity for all was window dressing for selling out the poor to appease the middle classes to win marginal seats.
And Brown wants to be an Arch Bishop not the Prime Minister with this endless rambling preaching.

Xavier, London, UK

Few may doubt the PM's intellect but we were the ones whose view of his time at No 11 and whose predictions for his tenure at No 10 have been borne out by history.

One of his old schoolmasters is supposed to have described him as being not much good as sums too.

Edward Green, Upminster, England

"The next crisis could also be the making of Mr Brown. It's easier to show leadership when the country faces a coherent threat. "
- Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

I hope not. We fell for it before. The Glasgow airport attack... cue Gordon, looking solemn, talking into a camera. Wow, leadership!!

Joe, Sheffield, UK

Most people don't really give a damn most of the time, but nothing disguises the fact that by the next election-those very same people will fancy a change.

William Grierson, Kimpton, UK

I always thought the Labour Party was just the party of "rational, factual, socialist argument" with a right wing of trade unionist Ernie Bevins and a left wing of romantic revolutionaries.

You make it sound as if Labour should be sectioned, for political hygiene, until it gets its act together.

Christopher Chantrill, Seattle, USA

I said all along that replacing Blair with Brown was like replacing a Rolls with a Skoda. If the smartie-pantses in the Labour party who undermined Blair, lose their seats in parliament, it serves them right. The ones that don't , will have 20 years in opposition to think about what they did.

Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia

A Britain whose Prime Minister was inept but whose administration and Civil Service was brilliant would run like clockwork. If the Prime Minister was brilliant and the administration and Civil Service was hopeless it would collapse and be ungovernable. We truly have the worst of both worlds now.

William Marler, Leintwardine, Herefordshire

Leadership dependency and jackal mentality of politicians is the real problem, it inhibits resolution, cohesion has always been fragile in the LP and when the going gets tough we can't hack it. so blame the PM. The LP again helpless in a flawed concept of the superior person, how sad is that

David Webster Smith, Rugeley, Staffs

He has to go and go soon or else we will end up being governed by a cabinet of ex-etonians. When you replace the family car, you don't get one several years older and the same goes for Prime Ministers. We need a younger man with drive, vision and determination. He is dour, dull and dithery.

Andy Dyson , Loughborough,

Sometimes taking a stand means that you lose government; however, it also means that you have a moral point around which to rally. Labour needs that point desperately. Losing government is inevitable but losing government and believing nothing is fatal.

simon, london,

"Showing leadership" is not enough: one has to actually lead.
Blair never really led his party - he just strode along ahead of them spinning plates that they then had to try and keep in the air. Brown cannot lead until he thinks up some truly viable policies and there seems slim chance of that.

Rosemary, Germany,

The only coherent threat is to "pretend" that we face a threat from Alky ida..He cant pretend to govern cos 80% of our legislation is decided in the EU.He has nicked the pension monies ,sold off the Gold Reserves at a ridiculous price and made Taxation a nightmare.Intellect? 11 years wasted?

david, Barnsley, England

I thought he would be better than Blair, I thought he might have a strategy for dealing with EU waste but he is an EU sycnophant. I should have been wiser, he stole the private pensions, he spent to the hilt and kept a lot of the costs of his splurges off the books.
The mans a wimp and a disaster.

Julian Williams, Narberth, pembs

Gordon Brown is secretly an excellent Prime Minister. What he says about having buffeted the UK from the global recession are largely true. Unfortunately he expects his deeds to speak for themselves, and doesn't bother, as Tony did, to explain his decisions to the electorate.

Jill Rees, Bridgwater, UK

The next crisis could also be the making of Mr Brown. It's easier to show leadership when the country faces a coherent threat.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK