Wish Brown & Co would be less productive and stopped passing so many laws. How many MPs read the 2270 laws and regulations imposed last year? If not, how could they be approved? It's not how hard you work, it's how smart you work that counts. And understanding the consequences...

Chris King, Fleet, Hampshire

Well done Mr Brown.
Now go and lead by example and show us that you work even harder on solving peoples every day problems......soaring energy prices, soaring food prices, soaring council taxes. Please work hard on solving these issues.

Until then: Most of DO work hard. Thank you very much!

Marek, London,

We work 5 months of the year to meet our tax obligations already!

Is that ethical, fair or reasonable?

Aztec, Fleet, UK

We need 'good work,' development, career structure - i.e. a goal. Worked for a FTSE 100 financial co. for a decade. Had maybe ten days' training in that period. 'Career structure' was abandoned. Salaries frozen year on year. Not for execs of course. 6% rises for them. No motivation, just platitudes.

Office Monkey, Exeter, Uk

People here are so bitter. You people are the ones who have reduced our concept of Quality of Life to welfare statistics and petty political hatred.

You want everything to be given to you. How about cheering up, supporting positive movements, enjoying life? Thats quality of life.

Dave, London, England

It's 11.30pm.

After working all day I am now in my fourth hour of evening work, trying to get enough money to pay for luxuries like the mortgage, Council Tax, food, etc.

Thatcher? True. Though I can't recall Sunny Jim Callaghan doing any better than her, either!

Martin, Telford,

Linda, I couldn't have put it better......

Michael, London,

A bit rich coming from a man whose government (and I use the term loosely) allows people to sit on their backsides watching Sky TV and Jeremy Kyle whilst being kept warm and fed by the state, courtesy of those who work and pay taxes. He needs to come and see all the idle in his own constituency!

Linda, Fife,

so what Mr Brown is saying is that i have to work harder than i already do to bribe 'poor parents' who cant even be bothered to take their kids to the Doctors? I am heartily sick of paying for other people's kids already, what happened to social responsibility?

phil mann, newcastle upon tyne, UK

So many of McBroon's 3 million jobs created are 'McJobs', named in Australia after 'burger-flipping' (in McDonalds) and call centre work forced on young people at minimum wages.
McBroon has never 'created' any jobs himself - that is the work of the private sector.

Padraig, Perth, Australia

NHS is free so theres no excuse for parents not to take children to docs(unlike US where insurance is involved) if money is paying for them to attend play areas/classes - why not put the money directly into this and make these free in poorer areas. This way you know where the money is going!

Mandy, Aberdeen,

Britons already work the longest hours in Europe, but our productivity per hour worked is far less than the French who are on a 35hr week. It's not that we as a nation aren't working hard enough, it's that we're not working smart enough.

Rob, London,

I am 57 yrs old, have worked all my life and raised 3 boys, my husband ran off 15 yrs ago, leaving me to cope alone, my boys are all wage earners now, but following an accident on 2000, I was incapacitated. I now struggle on £59 pw benefits. GB pays that for a Taxi!, Well off?? Not me. Not Nu Lab!

Roshea, Devon,

Daer Sir,with ref to working harder, we were always told a fair days work for a fair days pay,this is rubbish as the polititions only want people to work for the minimum pay.There is a saying that if you pay peanuts you get Monkeys.Brown is taking away incentives from everyone
Yours truly
R Kenney

ROY KENNEY , ALICANTE , SPAIN

Walk round Bridgwater, and most other towns, any day and see the unemployable of lost generations. They are incapable of work or by demeanour being employed, yet appear to have money for alcohol and expensive coffee!

Michael, Bridgwater , UK

"We must set a national priority to aggressively and relentlessly develop the potential of the British people". Sounds like he wants us all to be hard-driven slaves of the state.

Simon, Brentwood, UK

I don't think that it is the place of the PM or the majority of the House of Commons to preach the "work ethic" to the British People. In order to earn any right to preach they should have achieved something in a non-Westminster world before they entered "public service".

Richard Straughan, Bath, UK

here's an idea Gordon, anyone wearing blue socks on a given day gets a tenner

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

How deeply insulting. Most people I know work very hard. The benefits culture must be an enormous strain on the government/us - that surely is where the real problem lies. His focus should undergo a subtle change - cowardly Brown isn't subtle enough to do it I'm sure.

karen, beaconsfield,

There's nothing out there, just office jobs which will be evapourating as the downturn accelerates. People with aspirations/skills/ideas are stifled. I had to travel overseas to learn a new skill. Now back in the UK, tax is killing me. Returning overseas soon. Bye UK!

John, London,

OMG, this is absolutely hilarious.

We need a better work ethic and approach to life. Yes, well that's been obvious for years dear.

And the way to get parents to behave, is to bribe them to behave as proper parents to their own children!!

Encourage good behaviour by gutter means?

For god's sake..

Laura Roberts, London, United Kingdom

Alex , London , got it in one, the previous governments and this one have destroyed the work ethic by making it more comfortable to be sat at home or fiddling the system, this idea to pay people to have medical checks is another looney idea the sad thing is the man does not see it. Disconnected???

Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain

I want my kids to grow up to be Labour mp's. So they can lead carefree lavish lifestyles and go on to sell Britian to the E.U for a place on the european council. Just hope they remember to visit me at my home in the government run work camps, because that's the road we are heading down so rapidly.

Mike, Wrexham, U.K

Funny, I thought we already worked longer hours and had fewer public holidays than the rest of europe.

10 years ago the answer was to increase productivity but we cant mention that as its gone nowhere under Labour.

J Ward, Burntwood, Staffs

That's a bit rich coming from a man who's never had a proper job

Dave, Notts, UK

Damn cheek! Having just had Tom Harris (£92K plus expenses) giving us the benefit of his wisdom, you would have thought Bottler wouid have had the common sense to wind his neck in! Fact is chum, you couldn't hold a candle to Margaret Thatcher and under incompetent Labour we'll all soon need 'em!

Milo, Uckfield, UK

Its correct social mobility stalled under MT. However, this man spoke of making UK like USA, re. opportunities. Having tested that, we have no prospects for the 'American Dream' here. Many have fallen into the benefits trap - don't blame them. It is lack of opportunity. Young man leave now!

Mike, London,

Dreadful split infinitive in Brown's statement. Some education *he* had

Jeremy Poynton, Frome, Somerset

Britons need a better prime minister.

Robert, Hull, East Yorkshire

Do you actually live in Britain? Do you think governments are there to soothe your abrasive lack of culture and eternal lamenting that others, always the others, are guilty for your silly unhappiness? Grow up and get a life

vera tude, Sao paolo, Brasil

I'm 55 and worked hard, diligently and honestly all my life. What a bloomin' cheek - Britons who work are just mules - we work and work and suffer under the most punitive tax regime imaginable. Young people of Britain - take heed - there is nothing here for you but tax poverty and misery - emigrate

philip hawkey, Redruth, UK

This is so utterly stupid, that it could only have been dreamed up by New Labour dreamers.

Britain has become a country in which the State already provides a decent standard of living for everybody.

Hard work is not necessary to achieve a lifetime of work-free luxury.

Long live BENEFITS !

sisan leigh, salford, england

Surely giving money to people to do things they should be doing as a matter of self interest and their children's benefit gives the message that they do not have to do anything until someone gives them money.
What better way to increase the idle benefit dependent culture.

Martin, Isle of Skye,

Under brown social mobility is high: the super-rich are getting richer and more people are getting poor. Why work hard when you can get an acceptable standard of living for doing nothing by sponging off everyone else? If you do work you're taxed on what you earn, what you spend and what you save.

Chris, Derby,

He should know he has been encouraging the feckless and the workshy not to get a job for years not to mention the millions of invalids that have miraculously become disabled under his tenure.He should have said Britain needs no work ethic to get ahead and he would be nearer the truth.

Philip, Ipswich,

I think GB is absolutely right. British people scorn at all he migrants coming into England but these hard working people are required because there are far too many lazy people happy to leech off the welfare system.

Everyone should work.

Randeep, Leicester, UK

Is this Brown's "John Major moment" ? It's all remiscent of "Back to Basics" - the sign of a desperate man.

Mark, Hull,

This is ironic considering his penchant for encouraging workers to claim in the form of tax credits. He is creating a Society where people see claiming the norm and then criticising them for a lack of work ethic!

Alex, Woking, UK

Gordon once had a `proper' job, he was a `researcher' - I believe for a TV company. But that was 35 years ago and since then he's completely lost touch with reality. He probably doesn't know how much-or how little- £200 can be in varied situations. He certainly will not know how much a loaf costs.

Ian Brown, Stony Stratford, Bucks

Thatcher era misery eh? From what I saw on the TV the other day the fuss from the miners was over a mere 20,000 jobs. Way more than that get fired in New Labour era bank clear-outs. Plus in Thatch's time benefits were significantly higher. Government efficiency and accountability is what we need.

Rose, Stirling, UK

Well you could always take the time and trouble to build up your own business from scratch, and after years of hard work and sacrifice start reaping the rewards could'nt you? Provided of course someone with a grudge, aided and abetted by Nu Labour, doesnt come along and destroy it for you.

steve, swansea, wales

I do agree with Gordon. People shoud have oppurtiunities for studing. Blerim, London

Blerim, Palmers Green, United Kingdom

With the longest working hours in Europe and a work-focused approach to life we need the Prime Minister to address the lack of opportunity and empowerment not "working harder".

David, Athens, Greece

In education - so study and learn.
In employment - so work hard and strive and get off your backsides and get the skills.
In health - eat healthily and go to the doctor when you need to.
In housing - scrap pro-keyworker discrimination and provide council properties only for the duration of hardship.

Laura Roberts, London, United Kingdom

The wrk enthic was taken away by the last conservitive party.
At least Gordon is aware of the needs of the people.
What he wants to do is get rid of the scroungers in his goverment fiddling thier tax espenses

graham, Swansea, UK

New Labour had diverted so many people from productive work into pseudo-jobs in the public sector. They have also continued the Conservative policy of condemning people to economic house arrest by allowing them to be 'incapacitated'.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

It"s scary to see how people have forgotten the MISERY of the Thatcher era and subprime crisis I graduated and had to move to France to get a job... Well Thatchers "Unemployment" Minister did say " "get on your bike"......Sarkozy wants to copy the UK but the Brits all want to move to France

June, Paris, France

The comments so far perfectly capture what we are facing here. A sub-set of society that moans about the lack of opportunity, all playing the victim efforlessly. For once I think the PM has got a good point. I am from a pit village but have had plenty of opportunities. Stop moaning and get to work!

Steve, Barnsley, UK

So social mobility stalled in the 1980s? The era of the yuppie and the right-to-buy council house? The British have far too much of a work ethic Our prime minister needs to learn to put free time and happiness before "aggressively and relentlessly" interfering with anyone's way of life.

Mr Livered, Cambridge, England

So now it is all Thacher's fault again
Why won't this Government take responsibility for their own doings
There is little point in aiming high if any reward is going to be snatched away by this governments grubby little theiving hands

paul, nottingham, uk

Ah, so it's the public's fault for not working hard enough rather than the feckless imbeciles who have sucked the economy dry with excessive taxation and squandered the proceeds on fripperies. Brown, a man who has never done an honest days work in his life, is in no position to preach.

Erin Jacobs, London,

We all work hard enough to acheive the lifestyle we aspire to. It's the decisions of individuals that matter not, the exhortations of Gordon Brown. Sound bites and hot air again

Tom, Huddersfield, UK

I get up early and work till late, contantly knackered is the best way of describing myself. Then I see my taxes thrown at immigrants, the EU, Quangos and the councils latest big idea....
My children have been told to work hard and achieve and as soon as they can get out of this country.

Steve, Birkenhead, Merseyside

Gordon Brown's right of course. Work-life balance is also important, and we need to think hard as well as work hard. However too many expect it on a plate, then blame others for their problems.

charlie, Bristol, U.K.

Gordon might have the powerful work ethic needed to become Prime Minister but he's not very good at it is he?

While Gordon is unlikely to be better off if he was a bit lazier, the rest of us might be.

William, Ilkley,

Tim Barlett and Judy point to the relevant reality: No matter how well you do in exams, against all odds, no matter how ethic and how competent You are, it all comes to a 'workplace designed to hold You back' (as Judy said). It's the bosses who need ethic.
«It's not what you know it's WHO you know

Rui, Lisbon, depends

This is a bit rich from someone whose party has done more to prevent social mobility than any previous government.

Peter, Cambridge, UK

Atleast Thatcher's children didnt have to pay tuition fees, the worse off in society these days have to think twice before going to uni.

Neelkumar Patel, Peterborough, UK

On 1 hand we have Darling saying we should except below inflation payrises and on the other GB is saying we don't work hard enough. I'm in the higher tax bracket due to my work ethic not to mention the legion of indirect taxes and we r to expect less reward for more? so this govt can waste more £

Lainey, Newtownards, N Ireland,

So he's giving away more of our tax money to parents who take their kids to the doctor??? Is this why we have the highest tax burden we've ever had in this country?

Gordon - if you want the work ethic to take hold then stop stealing the rewards of hard work.

Bill , Edinburgh, Scotland

'More people need to adopt the work ethic and aim high in life, Gordon Brown will say today...'
More musings from previous speeches.
Almost daily I expect the Mars rover to beam a photo of Buggins wandering the Martian surface. That would at least identify on which planet he lives.

m collins, Leeds,

I see the comment moan squad are here again. Anyone who has spent much time outside of the UK knows that Gordon is spot on here; we spend more time moaning than doing. Here's to the winners in this country, like me, the people who will WORK for our country rather than just sit and grumble!

Chris, London, England

I'm not surprised that the work ethic doesn't exist - who in their right mind would aspire to work in a call centre, or a shop?

We need a broad range of good quality work opportunities - including in manufacturing; and we need to value vocational training as much as a university education.

Adrienne, Macclesfield,

My Dad told me work hard son...and you will succeed. What he failed to tell me was to work hard for myself. Employers exploit that work ethic as much as they can, and pay you as little as they can get away with, and discard you when they see fit. The government then take most of your wage as tax...

MG, Portsmouth,

£200 if you take your kids for health checks, £150. if you give up smoking, what next - a fiver if you use a pedestrian crossing, a few quid if you don't jump off a moving bus. The government has got too much of our money if it pays folk to do that which responsible people do anyway.

Keith, Pembroke Dock, U.K.

Stop paying into the International NHS, stop paying child benefits to immigrants, stop paying any kind of benefit to immigrants, stop housing immigrants, and start looking after the pensioners and every other poor soul that has been taxed until we squeak and then just see the money being thrown away

Roger, Surrey.,

Hang on, PAYING parents to ensure they get medical attention?! -Surely aggressively promoting benefits of healthier diet & lifestyles is more sensible - not giving away our taxes to irresponsible, lazy and ignorant benefit seekers!! The healthier one is = the fewer visits to the hospital!!

O Rimes, Leeds, United Kingdom

When you've been made redundant twice it sort of dents your work ethic.

Pete, St Albans, England

paying poor people to go to the drs??? so at the moment we have parents that dont take their kids to the Drs despite the fact that it is free- what sort of people are some of my fellow citizens????

david, London, UK

Work better, not longer. Brown may work all the hours in the day, but what he produces is generally worthless. If he did a bit less 'work', but made a few decisions and concentrated on the important stuff, things might be a bit better.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

How do they get better work ethic from going the doctors what sort of idot thinks that?

If he wants people to work then he has to take away the dole and council house for pregent weman. He needs to be thouth, if 16 year old girls no longer get their own palce for having a child, they may get aJOB

MR W Jones, Liverpool, England

gutless Gordon wants, does he? that's all we hear from him, "I want". who does he think he is_the sovereign?

peter c, devizes, wessex

What a joke....
Why try and better yourself just to pay more and more tax, get no personal return and watch your taxes wasted on immigrants, MP's wages and expences and other useless government ideas.
With regards to health check ups it's part of being a parent to ensure the health of your child.

N Morgan, Stockport, UK

better work ethic?! stop giving out benefits and making welfare a way of life for people in this country.

Alex, London, England

Most of us already have the work ethic. What we don't have are the rewards -- they all get siphoned off by government.
The only way any british kid can do better for themselves now is by emigrating.

Tim Bartlett, Upwell, UK

Yet more pathetic "knee jerk" reactions to the dire state of our nation from an out of touch politician. He and his ilk have forced thousands into poverty, dependence on benefit culture and reliance on the state. Rather than to give people hope, vision and drive.

ian woolger, budleigh salterton, devon uk

It doesn't matter a fig how high you aim if nobody is prepared to give you a hand up. Everything in the British workplace is designed to hold you back. Not least the promise of training in the public sector which is NEVER delivered. Wake up Mr Brown your ignorance is embarrassing.

judy, Liverpool, England

The chances of ordinary folk getting onto the housing ladder were improving very nicely until Labour came to power. Talk about the blind leading the blind. Does Brown actually live in Britain?

judy, Liverpool, England