Or cautious whale, or powerfull snail? Brown both!

geoffrey swain, Almancil, Portugal

Lets face it the unelected Brown along with his govenment is a spent force the sooner there is freash blood at number 10 the better!

Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England

Sir,
All these so called reforms amount to more than perpetuating the mith of political concern. All neglect the individual. Everybody is different allow to rise or fall on their own merit. Teacher are to individuals some inspire, some dull but at the end produce individuals not cogs. Gov allow.

Terence E Rowe, Blackburn, England

the Brownites want people to have a “voice” - through local consultations and customer satisfaction surveys for example

Yes, a voice that is very easy to ignore.

Chris, Wiltshire,

I can't remember a time when the health service wasn't being reorgnised or reformed.

It is time to recognise that the problem isn't the schools or hospitals, it is the Government. They need to get out out of being able to stick their noses in whenever it pleases them.

Abolish LEAs for a start.

Gary Hyans, Bryansk, Russia

The government and Mr Brown in particular will say or do or 'believe in' anything, just anything that will make them more popular, whether for the common good or not.

Spin and PR is king, reason is forgotten, the people can eat cake.

Bad government is dangerous and divisive. We need an election

David, St Albans, uk

Since the NHS now employs hundreds of thousands of 'managers' they have to be given something to do.

Frank Uptun, Solihull,

Brown is never going to reform,he is a diehard Marxist of the most entrenched kind. Whenever he stated publicly he would take a moderate approach, he countered this by stealth actions and deceit. This is real emperors new clothes stuff,he'll say one thing to gain favour and as usual do the opposite

Bryan, Totland , UK

Choice is not the issue, performance is. Whats the point of choice between the nearest hospital, and the next nearest one one 25 miles away. Or the local school, and one thats 45 minutes bus ride away for the children. Not everybody lives in metropolitan areas.

Dave, Liverpool, UK

Gordon Brown has frequently said one thing but acted differently. Advocated competition but overseen momumental bureacracy and red-tape. Talked prudence and spent money rashly. Now reforming but only within his constraints. Can a leopard change its spots, or a snail its shell?
Unlikely.

Mike Daly, Maidenhead, Berkshire

To celebrate his first year, Brown's lot published a brochure entitled 'Excellence, Fairness and World-Class Services' or some similar bag of moonshine. Which world were we being compared to, one wonders. I thought he had already made a U-turn and was backing into everything as a result.

john problem, winchester, uk

If I was chronically ill, the last thing I would need would be to be given a budget and told to get on with it. Give the money to the experts in the NHS hospitals, so that they have the resources to provide top quality care.

Dave, Liverpool, UK

We are talking about re-organisation NOT reform. Reform suggests a desired OUTCOME made reality at a stroke by legislation - as in votes for women. Re-organisation involves choice and the avoidance of pitfalls even disaster. Thats why Blair talked "reform" - as if the benefits were alreadycertain

Bob T, London, UK

I'd take Blair anytime, take him where further away from me, as for Brown he is a turn coat of the worse kind and not a bloke I'd trust.

New Labour old Tories.

Robert , Swansea, wales

We are told Mr Brown is a highly principled dedicated and hard working unelected Prime Minister. But his actions suggest he would stand on his head if it would help him hang on to power.

Simon Marshland, Bath, UK

"hospitals to be funded on the basis of the quality of their care"
Surely then patients who may now be getting a low standard of care will get an even lower one in the future? For good care you need proper discipline (!) and vocation in hospitals at fair rates of pay. Bring back proper matrons.

Amin Aswet, Gibraltar,

Brown is the worst Labour PM ever. What made him think he had the right to undermine and force out the best? The incompetence and arrogance of the man are astounding. Still, through his utter uselessness, he's making Blair look even better by the day; that must really hurt!

David, Ely, UK

I'd rather be a snail. The whale, because of its size, muddies the waters & it is the snail whose job it is to clean up after.

ian cheese, london, uk

I'm prepared to bet good money that the people's "Voice" is drowned out by those of producer interests within the NHS and education system (not to mention those of politicians).

Only when taxpayers can vote with their feet (and money) will we see real improvement.

HJ, Reading, UK

Gordon Brown should be ashamed of what he did to Tony Blair. A year in office has proven how right Blair was to resist Brown's absurd demands that somehow he deserved his "turn". What a pity Blair eventually gave in.

Tony Hopkins, London, UK

No choice - but allowed a voice. Sounds like the Lisbon ConTreaty. Our Dear Leader made the choice but we were allowed to voice an opinion on the Downing Street petitions website, which he then ignored. After all, Gordon knows best & why should he take any notice of people who never elected him.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

Seeing Brown run the country is like watching a car crash in slow motion. I'd take Blair any day!

simon, london,

For Brown and his government it is all too late. Trust has gone and as a result nobody any longer believes a word they say and in fact very few are even bothering to listen any more.
The death of this government will be a slow lingering affair.

regor1, cardiff,

Mr Brown brought in a breath of fresh air, and not seen as Cons/ lite like Blair. He has now become so right wing in everything he touches.. Attacks on the sick, disabled, the poor, smokers drinkers who's next? History has seen this before in 1930's Germany.

James , Brighton, England

Of course Gordon isn't doing a U-Turn. That would presume he was going somewhere in the first place.

John Goode, Welwyn Garden City, UK