I think Gordon Brown has been extremely lucky over the past 10+ years with the world's ecomomies mostly going upwards, however now at long last we seem to be finding out the truth about this man, who killed off many a good pension fund, and the firm who had it with is 20% tax/steal, he ruined the the ideal savings plan for shares, which in turn helped our companies changing the Pep to a less generious ISA. I have been a trades unionist and labour supporter all my klife, I'm now 69 and never will I vote Labour again. I would trust Tony Blair but never Gordon Brown. Look at his treatment of our troops !! our senior citizens,extra high taxes on fuel thus not allowing us to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the E.U. in fact not even with Scotland on many things. Mr Brown should be taking the flack of Alistar Darling, it was he who demoralised the treasury and customs, but he will not own up to it, poor Alistar has to take it on the chin.

B.Turner, READING, Berkshire

How opportunist of the opposition parties to jump to the defense of the incompetent HMRC official who blundered, absolving him of all blame. Do they seriously think that Gordon Brown and Darling should be standing over every government employee making sure they are doing the basics? Of course HMRC employees are going to blame anyone but themselves and pressures of work...I worked for a short time in a council office and was shocked at their laziness and lack of interest in their work. It's a disgrace that the official should even have to be told to send such sensitive information securely... his attitude to his job is a disgrace. No amount of legislation or procedures would change his type of couldn't care less attitude. I actually feel very sorry for Gordon Brown who apparently gets up at 5am and works damned hard on behalf of the country and has to take all the flak for a lazy incompetent fool.

ann witter, Aberdeen, Scotland

I guess at least he said 'sorry' - that's more than when he stole our pensions or sold off British gold at rock bottom prices

Rob, Birmingham, UK

Gordon is dead set on getting us all with the ID card isn't he!!!

I'd love him to personally explain to me how it will protect us more than the current DWP system. Knowing for a fact Gordon wont have a clue about computting but thinks it sounds like a great idea.

Anyone with a bit of know how realises that the system he is proposing will increase fraud on a massive, massive scale.
It's like saying, look, we are setting up this system that is so secure that no one questions it, so all you have to do is get your name on it or pretend your one of the people on it and you've got your "free pass" to do what you want with.

Saying that though, he only agree'd to do the biometric passports becuase the US said we wouldn't get the visa's as easy, so I guess it wouldn't take much to have given in on the ID card system with the new feature of "chip and pin".

Loads of private companyies get there websites hacked and data stolen, they cover it up though, so that not to damage image.

Andrew, England,

Wonderful, marvellous, 'lofty as a converted warehouse' will stay with me for years. Not to mention quoting passages from the manual before blaming the opposition. 'I shall now read from the Book of Protective Security, chapter 12, verses 3-14."

Helen, northants,

And Dave, the ordinary lad from Eton and his band of braying adolescents are indisputable clowns of the year. But then, that's the Tories' role in any year.

eric campbell, harrogate , uk

Brilliant, utterly brilliant. Having been away on a long holiday to South Africa I am missing out on the hysteria surrounding the "missing discs." Ann Treneman's sketches have brought the story to life for me out here and provided a wonderful take on the shambles. Two and a half thumbs up!

Simon , Johannesburg, South Africa

Three fabulous sketches from Ann. She must be in line for sketchwriter of the year

Dave (the other one), Geneva, Switzerland