Deja vu - haven't we been here before in 1978 just before the downfall of the last Labour Government?After 13 budget Healey and the last intervention by the IMF.The only question is how long before the departure of yet another failed Labour attempt at government gives us a chance for good governance.

Ron Hartnell, Croydon, U.K

Brown is no good for this country at this moment in time, maybe 10-15 years ago... but in todays day and age, he's useless to us!

I dont know where to start with this man apart from saying, he was oviously blair's right hand man for 10 years and had a part in all the good and bad of the last 10 years. The problem is, i think the next 10 years could be a disastar with Brown in power.

He was given the polition of leading the party and no one contested, now he'll have no opesition for the leadership of Labour, what does this tell yo uabout politics?

It's speaks worlds to me!!

Andy, England,

Let's hope Mr Salmond wins Independence for Scotland, this will be great for ENGLAND, no more Scottish politicians in England. Also never again will a Labour Party win in England (or Scotland for that matter).
Best of Both Worlds for England.

Howard, Basildon, England

SNP are ahead in Westminster voting intention in Scotland now if the polls are to be believed. Which is absolutely incredible considering they scored something like 17% last time round!

PMK, Ayrshire, Scotland

Well said B of Glasgow!

Can you become independent asap please so that we English can stop carrying you?

Ed Moran, Torquay,

The SNP under Alec Salmond are now recognised as the Scottish Party, they are trusted and respected. Meanwhile the disaster that is Scottish Labour are still running around like headless chickens.
It is now a matter of when, and not if, Scotland becomes independent.

aristotle mac, Edinburgh, Scotland

Gordon Brown is nothing more than a green eyed monster sitting in Westminster when it comes to comparing Mr Salmond's achievements and progress in the last 12 months. Brown's stutterings and mumblings over the Wendy Alexander debacle left any supporters Labour have in Scotland just wondering just how low the party could sink.

Steve Mitchell, London,

Alex Salmond is doing well because:
(a) He has pandered to the socialist whims of the electorate
(b) The other parties are wary of bringing about another election in the near future
(c) Wendy Alexander is useless

The SNP have indeed proved adroit in government. They know that their policies are not affordable and for that they will blame Westminster, thus, at the same time, fermenting dissatisfaction with the Union. I only hope the Scottish people see through their games. Fundamentally they are still a narrow nationalist party driven by bigotry.

V, Glasgow,

Your comments on George Osborne are, as usual out of touch with reality.I watched him on channel 4 news being interviewed by the incompetent J Snow. Osborne was frightful. He demonstrated that he has no grasp of his shadow job. He is prone to trot out garbage with little thought to reality.Darling is a mess, but Osborne insults the intlligence of the common man.It is a sure indicator of the level of intilect of Cameron who gives us 2 fools the other being, Boris the Jackanape and expects sane people to vote for them. Jolly japes; chocks away. A plague on all their houses.

john eadie macgregor, Doncaster, South yorks

"The SNP's minority position is double- edged.It has a platform
without the expectations of full power."
If you lived in Scotland I think that you would realize how wrong
that statement is.According to the latest polls, a majority of
Scots who expressed an opinion favour the SNP negotiating
an independance settlement with London. I think that the SNP
are hoping for full power fairly soon.

JH, Glasgow,

I envy the Scots. They have their own leader - and a very capable one.
We have a guy who governs us, but whose constituants aren't affected by his actions - only we, the English, get put down by his prescription charges, tuition fees, home care fees, high council taxes etc. Meanwhile, the Scots avoid all this as their government is a) their own and b) better than the pan-UK government that rules England.

Until the current constitutional mess we have is sorted out, and England has its laws imposed by English-only MPs, we will remain the worst of all the UK countries. And separatism will increase in both England and Scotland.

Chris, Northampton, England

Long Live Bonnie Bonnie Alex!!


All hail an Independant Scotland!!

B, Glasgow, Scotland-the-soon-to-be-free

He is popular because he puts Scotland's interests first not Westminster's.....Can you ever imagine Brown and co. freezing council tax, lowering the price of prescriptions, capping hospital parking fees etc, etc.And by the way he gave the Police the full 2 % pay rise...

M Alexander, Aberdeen, Scotland

You miss the salient point. Scots hate each other more than they hate the English. With Salmond it's personal and Gordon doesn't like it one bit.

Robert, Worcester, UK

Alec Salmond was always head and shoulders above Gordon Brown. Mr Salmond has never left his roots and understands the Scottish People and their aspirations. Gordon, like so many before him goes south and begins to think he belongs there, well Gordon the English are going to send you home with your tail between your legs and I don't think you will get a very warm welcome in Kirkcaldy where most of your constituency has a wage of less than £20K.

Helena, Dunfermline, Scotland

How does Mr Salmond afford these "populist" measures? Charges and taxes on the one hand, services such as health, education, transport and social services on the other. People who think the first two should be cut should specify which services should be cut to allow it.

Barry, Wallington, UK

This article doesn't mention the most significant poll numbers of all, those on Scottish independence, which is after all the SNP's number one goal. The two most recent published polls show independence and the status quo running pretty much neck-and-neck at around 40% each, with 20% undecided.

Gordono, Aberdeen, Scotland

I am a member of the "swivel eyed Mc Chattering class" and I am delighted with the Scottish Government!
The more we are told we are scroungers , bigots etc . by the Scotland Office the more the numbers grow for Alex Salmond and his team.
They have Scotlands interests at heart and it shows!
A refreshing change from the previous incumbents.
They tell us Scots that we have an inbuilt negativity , its in the genes they say, well perhaps that is due to years of losing out economically , years of suppression.
Happily that is changing!

Disgruntled Dorothy, Glasgow, Scotland