GORDON BROWN is said to be making U-turns and to be a weak prime minister, but changing one’s mind after due consideration is a good thing (Brown faces new 10p tax rebellion, News, and Another failure, Gordon, and the axeman will be on his way, Martin Ivens, Comment, last week).

A bit of dithering and thought might have stopped soldiers being sent to Iraq and thousands of young troops and civilians losing their lives.

It is a brave thing to turn on occasions. People want the quick fix and expect politicians to supply that, but perhaps we should return to the considered view for better results.

Norma Clark London SE22

TOO LATE: Brown says he will sit up and take note. He has had 11 years. Perhaps David Miliband or John McDonnell as prime minister? A Conservative government is not far away.

Anthony Williams London SE18

PUT IT TO THE VOTE: A challenge for the leadership from inside Labour is not what the people want. Brown should do the honourable thing and call a general election. The sooner, the better for us all.

Chris Hutchinson Norwich

10p TURN-OFF: I have been a lifelong Labour voter and feel the party has lost direction: for example, with the scrapping of the 10p tax band. The Liberal Democrats will have my vote unless Labour sorts out its act.

Gareth Jenkins Pwllheli, Gwynedd

LESS IS MORE: Labour needs to drop some flagship policies. Besides the tax issue we have the 42-day detention row and identity cards – not popular with the public. Instead of spending £5 billion-plus on ID cards, the income tax threshold could be raised. The best thing any government can do for the poor.

Gary Hickman Remshalden, Germany

SAME DIFFERENCE: The effect of the 10p tax on low-paid workers with no children, such as me, will be dire. If we are to claim back what we have lost you can bet your last penny it won’t be easy. The public will now vote Conservative, forgetting they are just the same.

Veronica Aldous Croydon

MARKET FORCES: For 10 years Brown happily took the credit for the strong economy, even though it was entirely due to benign global markets. Now that the financial landscape is not quite so kind, it’s the global downturn and not his fault.

Robert Grant Bath

RUNNING ON EMPTY: The fact that we have had one of the best decades financially and have put nothing aside for a rainy day says it all about this team’s “prudence”.

Russell Holmstoel London N8

HISTORY LESSON: Labour supporters are rightly indignant over the tax issue but let’s not forget the abolition of student grants, the Scottish parliament building and the higher pro rata spending on the Scots, and the pension raid by Brown, which affects everyone with a UK pension.

John Haydon Rowe Javea, Spain

BENEFITS TRAP: So instead of being able to count ourselves as hard-working taxpayers, it is proposed that people on low wages will be in receipt of a benefits package? What does that do for self-respect and morale? Bad enough to have limited income without lining up for aid when you have struggled to be independent and contribute to society.

Christine Ayling London SW10

COSTA PLENTY: With the sinking pound, the good ship Gordo will get another hit below the waterline when people return from their [pricier] holidays on the costas.

Mike Griffiths Anglesey

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