Peter Riddell
The man, the films, those blondes. Free DVD collection starting this Sunday

A big majority of voters regard Gordon Brown as weak, a loser and not up to the job of being Prime Minister, despite a bottoming out of Labour support after the recent freefall.
The latest Populus poll for The Times, undertaken over the weekend, shows the scale of disillusionment with Mr Brown compared with the high expectations before he took office a year ago. It also shows that the Tories have moved into a big lead — 39 per cent against 26 per cent for Labour — as the best party to manage the economy.
The only, small comfort for Labour is that the sharp drop in its rating since the early spring has halted. The party is now on 28 per cent, up three points since a month ago, while the Conservatives are on 41 per cent, down 4 points. This was bound to happen at some stage as Labour support could not go on falling. Tory support may have been affected by recent allegations over the finances of some party spokesmen and MPs.
The Liberal Democrats are on 19 per cent, down one point, and other parties on 12 per cent, up three points.
However, this is still the second largest Tory lead in any Populus poll. Nineteen of the past 21 published polls, going back to late April, have put Labour at below 30 per cent, while only one poll has had the Tories below 40 per cent.
Mr Brown’s image is more negative than his own party’s. This may encourage his critics among Labour MPs to wonder whether they might be better off with another leader before the next election.
By a margin of more than two to one (67 per cent to 29), voters regard him as weak rather than strong. This is almost the mirror image of their view of David Cameron. Similarly, just a fifth see Mr Brown as a winner, and three quarters as a loser, compared with three fifths and just under a third for the Tory leader. Nearly three fifths of those who voted Labour in 2005 think Mr Brown is a loser.
A mere 25 per cent believe Mr Brown is up to the job of being Prime Minister, against 72 per cent who believe he is not. This compares with 55 and 37 per cent for Mr Cameron.
In May 2007, before Mr Brown took over from Tony Blair, expectations were high that change would be for the better. But there is now general disenchantment, particularly on the economy, standards in public life and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. Whereas 14 months ago, 19 per cent thought the economy would get better, now just 3 per cent do, while getting worse has jumped from 25 to 82 per cent.
The economic gloom is hitting Labour hard. There was never much expectation that the level of taxes would get better (12 per cent against 4 now), but the number thinking they have changed for the worse has risen from 47 per cent to 69.
Similarly, the number saying that Labour is the best party on managing Britain’s economy well in bad times as well as good has declined from 51 per cent last September, to 35 per cent last December and to just 26 per cent now. The Conservatives enjoy a clear lead, at 39 per cent, up 5 points since December.
*Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,507 adults aged over 18 by telephone between July 4 and 6. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to be representative of all adults. For more details go to www.populus.co.uk
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A stunning inablity of these Labour supporters to recognise one of their own major failings.
Clive, Chesterfield, UK
Hey, you lemmings. Haven't you worked out yet that it doesn't matter whether its the Tories, or NuLab in power? For example, will CammyKnickers give us the referendum on Lisbon? A deafening silence there? Will he repeal the 42 day internment measures? Another deafening silence.
Lemmings Brown, Idaho,
Labour stabilising. If Lab - up 3 and Tories down 4% is stabilising then I will take a bit of stabilising every month. The tide will continue to swing in Labours favour as the months go on! Less Labour gaffes and more Tory sleaze will see us fine!
Rae, Dorset,
Brown's strategy in seeking votes is to grab money from those who have it, give it to those who haven't (including many workshy), and hope that the huge deficits will be ignored by the grateful at election times. Now he has been found out by even his "friends" his future is bleak. Bye bye Brown!
Jim Dyer, Shoeburyness, England
Don't forget his greatest act of treachery he refused
to let the country have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty not with standing the fact that a referendum was promised in the Labour Parties manifesto.
Barry Holmes, Christchurch, New Zealand
Mark, what has Noolabour to do with ~Socialism. Tories but without whippets and cloth caps trousering 1000s in expenses and double mortgages while never having done a real job ever
bob holmes, axbridge , England
Gordon Brown is suppose to promote the general welfare of the country, but he marches to the beat of his own drummer. We say 'lower taxes because we cannot pay our bills', and he tells us to stop wasting food. Need I say more?
Mark, Maidstone, England
It's a pity that 'most Labour supporters think Brown is a loser' when in fact the loser is socialism, anyone who believes in it, anyone who voted it in and anyone who believes it won't destroy Nations.
Mark, London, England
Labour can still win the next election, although a hung parliament is the most likely result. A workable Conservative majority is highly unlikely due to the distribution of their support, which would require them to win by a landslide in share of the vote, and the fact that Labour will recover.
Gavin Solomons, Bristol, United Kingdom
maybe the tories opposed the NHS because they knew it was a stupid idea. just becasue somethings free at the point of delivery doesnt make it good.
and so what if gordon brown lost an eye,what has that got to do with anything? what disadvantage is that other than having poor depth perception?
will, grimsby, uk
Sharpie and Tim C please get your facts right. We live in a parliamentary democracy. We do Not directly elect the PM, We vote for individual MPs. The party that gets a majority of seats forms the government and the leader of that party becomes PM. Brown replaced Blair like Major replaced Thatcher.
Peter H, Felixstowe, UK
Why should Cam and co give away their policies so early and have them all stolen by labour.
They will make their policies fully known in a general election campaign when they can be put up for scrutiny against labours 13 years of econonmic incompetence.
Jason, Birmingham,
Its hard to have any respect for him. Its forever on his record. He wanted 5 million low paid people to pay more tax, until some of his MPs woke up and stopped him. You can't trust anything he says anymore. Labour needs a new leader, people are unlikey to vote for " let them eat cake"
Ted, Newcastle, UK
He pinched my pension and robbed me blind with his stealth taxes. He has economically destroyed this country after years of cashing in on the brilliance of Ken Clark's time at the treasury.
He deserves no pity and he must go before its too late.
roger Kingston, york,
And its not a change of leader we are looking for its an Election. I believe the government have seriously underestimated the strength of feeling of the voters in this country who are just waiting for their revenge at the ballot box.
Ron, Penrith, Cumbria
I often wondered what percentage of the labour-force is now directly employed by the state... could it be somewhere close to 28%? Honestly, I'm surprised it's that low.
James, Sunderland, UK
The problem for the government is the same as for the country too many hangers on who are doing nothing for us but are costing us in tax, labour's problem is same how there hanger on became their leader and no one will give them any money. Not only Brown but all hangers on should go!
Mr W Jones, Liverpool, England
"Most Labour voters think Gordon Brown is a 'loser' "
-- they're not as stupid as I thought.
Damian, London,
If Cam & Co are the only alternative to this shambles of a Lobour Government, then we're doomed. What are their policies. Can anyone tell me?
Tony, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
He is a winner he came back from losing an eye. 13 point lead is noting in mid terms. We had 20 points leads and lost.
Bob, Burnley, UK
He needs to do somethingly quickly to rescue the economy and people's pension savings-instead in the rare instance he puts his head above the parapet to "lead the nation" he talks about food waste!
David, London,
The survey should have asked which party would best overcomre the destruction of the planet earth. This question is the one that needs to be answered before a political party is selected. There is no future for any person or species if the environment is not always the priority issue.
Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia
His economic 'prudence' leaves us bankrupt, then he says 'let them eat cake'. The only surprise is the 25%.
Albert Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire, UK
That it because it is true. He is a self-confessed career politician, now that he has got to the top, he is lost. Every move he makes (politically) and otherwise is wrong. It really is painful to see him bleat every few days about anything but his poilcy mistakes. Please just step down us all.
Guy, Bradford, Good question
Time to go gracefully
david, Birmingham, uk
Not just Labour voters!!
A.M.Williams, Stafford,
If you think things will change when the Conservatives form a government, dream on !
Phil de Buquet, Newport,
What is amazing is that, after the failures of the last 11 years, and the Governmental chaos since Gordon became PM, 27% of people are still prepared to vote Labour.
Donna Walker, Effingham, England
If 28% of the population think that nulab is the best party to run the country, how does that compare to the percentage of the population that is employed by the government?
Tom Mein, Chorafakia, Crete
If people think the Tories will manage the economy better or simply do a better job as a government then they have short memories and are easily conned.
Watching the BBC's documentary on the formation of NHS and the opposition by the Tories it just confirmed the inherent vile nature of the Tories.
Abid Hussain, London, UK
whats pity for a scotsman who is the prime minister of england illegally put there by the labour party. Who voted him in not the people of the uk. what do you have to say against that mr brown (small caps for thats allhes worth)
sharpie, preston lancs, Great Britain
Let's hope the non-elected leader takes heed of what the electorate are clearly saying. Too much mis-management for too long, such as selling the nation's hard-won gold reserves at under $300 per ounce (now $900+), overseeing a party which seems more interested in maximising perks rather governing
Tim C, London,
I´m starting to pity the man.
DM, London,
It's all perfectly natural and cyclical. All governments run out of steam sooner or later, as did the Tories after 18 years under Thatcher and Major. But when Cameron gets in he shouldn't be too happy about it as his - and the Tories - time will be up soon enough and then Labour will get back in.
K Leonard, London, UK