I am 59, divorced, and work full time on a low income. I am not entitled to tax credits as I do not have children. The Government seem to forget about people like us who are struggling to keep up with the increases in fuel costs, council tax and food.

Ann, Swansea, UK

So come on with the green energy! In he Great Depression of the thirties Roosevelt built the Tennesse Dam thus employing thousands and boosting a deflated economy. So come on with the Severn Barrage. Unlike the wind, the tide is free and predictable and will supply one fifth of our energy

jeannie johnson, Chepstow,

People only take Brown seriously because he's got a Scottish accent.

William Mortimer Moore, Cheltenham, UK

Interesting. Self employed claim tax credit on net income, PAYE employed gross. Self employed adjust income and expenses, PAYE employed cant. Tax credit great for self employed. Friends on same income as self employed get next to nothing under PAYE, yet self employed plenty. Singles no kids get nowt

Richard , Canillas de Aceituno, Spain

I smell a General Election, the Labour rating is rising, why because wee Gordon is giving away money for nothing to all who will join his Tax Credits. If you have managed to provide a modest income in retirement, you dont get anything. Always my free TV licence when 75 !!!

Bee, york,

I am one of the million people who are to face a tax increase in April. Yet again on just £10,000 a year I will be asked to subsidise people with children. Increasing the taxes of people on as low an income as mine to pay for this is criminal.

judy, liverpool, england

"Congratulations to Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling ,who have both statesmanship and political courage", Glen - London

Thanks Glen! Thats the best laugh I've had today! Brown is not a statesman, he rode the wave of cheap money knowing this crunch may come. You have been conned like many others.

Paul, Grantham, UK

Thanks again to labour it will be those of us on middle incomes who pay more than anyone else who end up funding this bribe and us who will end up losing out again.
Why, when it is the middle earners in society who pay more yet lose most do we always get forgotten?
I can't wait for an election!

Terry, Oxford, UK

The "less well off". To whom is he referring? Pensioners juggling the "heating or eating" problem, or those young girls who believe that having numerous children by muliple partners is a career move and are provided with every comfort, free of charge, by the state? No prizes for correct answers.

Letitia Mainwaring, UK,

Boost everyone, make a difference. Increase personal allowances. Cut fuel duty/VAT. Double pensioners winter fuel payments. Suspend all stamp duty. But most of all immediately increase public works that are investments in the future but will increase jobs. Everything else is just a sideshow.

Melanie King, Birmingham, UK

Just so long as the money isn't spent on beer, cigarettes and lottery tickets

Richard, Bexhill, UK

How many more years will it take for people to realise that Brown is just all talk?

Robert, Wigan, GB

It is right, why should families earning such a high band of Income, receive Tax Credits? and those who earn half of that, without children, are not eligible for Tax Credits. We all know, that the government only do this, to recieve Votes to Labour, and that is the only reason.

Wendy, Dorset,

How nice of Mr Brown to save us after getting us into this mess, hiding behind global causes. Our children will have to pay later for his UK extravagence - re-election bribes, public sector pensions, bank bail outs and PFI waste will make sure the dwindling working age population will be taxed

Andrew, Warrington, Cheshire

The tax credit system is a poor way of giving a fiscal stimulus. Brown found when he removed the 10p band and claimed no one was a loser due to tax credits how wrong he was. This main is a fool who never learns.

Eddie Reader, birmingham, england

Surely Brown is showing himself as a complete hypocrit? In the same week that he rubbishes Tory tax plans as being unfunded details of a much bigger unfunded tax giveaway are released. The sooner an election comes the better so we can get rid of Brown and his irresponsible spending.

matthew, Workington,

From my point of view reduce VAT from 17.5% to around 8% ,reduction in energy prices , reduction in NI contribution and transport would be the direct benefit to everyone. The idea of giving away money in form of Tax credit is just another method of cutting corners while providing the tax cut

Bhavesh, Harrow, UK

The poll merely shows how little the surveyed people understand about economics. Brown's recession will be deep enough, but this way out will undermine the Uk recovery. Other nations signing up have sound debt levels and economies. We don't.

Kerrin Tansley, Guildford, England

A pre-Christmas give-away bribe. The last thing Gordon wants is an austerity Christmas & melt-down on the High Street when he's planning a General Election in May 2009. After that, if Labour wins, you'll be paying it all back again & more to pay for his profligate spending plans. You've been warned

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

If it is only a several hundred pounds per family it is unlikely to stimulate the economy as the poorer families are striving to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and keep warm. Similar injections in the USA had little or no effect. £16B divided by 6M families equals £2,500 each!!.

Richard, Torrevieja, Spain

And whose going to pay for this???? Especially when UK ltd., is already in debt on-balance and off-balance to the tune of how many hundreds of billions!!!

Louis, Liverpool, UK

I am all for tax cuts and helping the "lower paid", but does anyone anymore care for the "Middle Classes" who seem to be suffering more than most .

Hamad Lone, London, England

Using the Tax credit system means how many will be excluded from Browns big givaway? Browns plans are weak. 50% of mortgages are fixed rate so no benefit. The tax credit system removes another 40% of people. Yet he is happy to take 100% of everyones taxes. Fairness, I think not!

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

I do wish that the government would stop giving my taxes away to familys with children. I have to do 2 jobs to pay my way and do not receive anything in return!! Why do families who earn up to £66,350 get any tax credits at all? Surely a more sensible figure would be at leat half that!!

Carol, Oxford, England

Also, while I agree tax credits in principle, I feel that they should only be paid for the first 2 children - after that you don't get any for having more and more children.

Carol, Oxford, England

Congratulations to Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling ,who have both statesmanship and political courage ,which will not be forgotten when an election comes. The Tories, with the gloss off, have nothing to offer but PR. We live in difficult worldwide times and we need a coordinated approach.

Glen, London,

Tax credits do not help those who do not pay tax . I fall between the workers and the 65 year olds as I am a woman between 60-65. I get the equivalent of pension credit because of a small private pension but this is taxed and does not passport me through council Tax. I would be better off on IS. WHY

Barbara, north east, uk