There will be an audiable sense of relief from Land's end to John O'Groats the day Brown et al are finally booted into oblivion, followed by the mother of all parties.

Labour have been an unmitigated disaster and par for the course for a socialist government.

Steve W, Coleshill, U.K.

"Why dosn't Gordon Brown just go?
And take his has-been buddies with him
Richie, Doncaster, "

they're hanging on like grim death to meet 13 years in office so they qualify for massive index linked pensions

paul cooke, gloucester uk,

Tory misrule has always been better than Labour rule...

Phil, Preston,

Why dosn't Gordon Brown just go?

And take his has-been buddies with him

Richie, Doncaster,

Lazy, 3 day per week, overpaid public sector workers - be afraid. Be very afraid. Reality is soon to catch up with you all. HaHaHa.

John Clark, Llanfairfechan, Uk

Oh come on it's not that bad - it's been simply ages since Labour last bankrupted the country and went to the IMF for a bailout.

Riff, London,

No good Brown throwing money around to keep people off the dole! Many jobs were going/planned to go well before the credit crunch, look at the big empty headquarters buildings around the South East these companies moved to low tax location, so Brown's policies have been killing jobs/he is to blame

Richard de Gerber, Kingston upon Thames, UK

Labour did not implement this idea earlier because it wasn't theirs --- it was the Tories'.
They dithered & now they've been dragged kicking & screaming to do it - & even then have not gone far enough..

..and Amanda, Manchester - who do you think will be paying the fine?

Shot - own foot etc.

Phil, Preston,

I have always found these polls a bit dubious.

I come from a Labour voting family, with 8 out of 11 members voting for them at the last 3 elections.
At a Christmas 'get together' I did a quick poll of my own.

Result as follows.
9 Tory
1 Liberal
1 won't vote

That is a real poll.

John Ball, Bristol, England

For many years now, any financial expert worth his salt, has stated that, if you are deep in debt, STOP SPENDING.
That maxim has always held good for businesses and private citizens across the country, so how can this present government get away with doing exactly the opposite.

JOHN, Mansfield, england

Maybe people are starting to realise that if the problem is too much borrowing then the solution cannot be to throw much, much more money at it.

Peter Sammons, Cambridge, UK

We (the people) own most of the Banks but they are still making the UK a financial joke. Here's an idea - give them lending targets for businesses & individuals, and if they don't achieve FINE THEM! For every day they do not lend, another business & many individuals lose their livelihoods.

Amanda , Manchester,

Gosh, you mean to tell me the populace doesn't believe our Gordon is the economic Messiah?

gwilym rhys-jones, marbella, spain

Incapability Brown....!

Charles Le Fevre, Birmingham, England

Labour has been in power for 12 years. Need I say more ?

TERRY, Pudsey, England

Brown is a busted flush and so are we because of him! Remember he was in charge of the economy for 10 years and praised himself for how clever he was,when in fact he was just riding a global boom - well now its bust!!!
He's current daily announcements are worth nothing - he has not delivered!

Peter Jones, Stroud, UK

the last realistic day on which the next general election
could take place is Thursday 3 June 2010.


that is 507 days and counting.

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

True to form, Labour ALWAYS ruin the country's finances: the pound always suffers under Labour, taxes always rise, public spending is always wasted and they ALWAYS try to cling desperately onto power.
The only difference this time is that the scale of their ineptitude is competely unprecedented.

R.McGeddon, London, England

I think the dark days of thatcher will return with cameron. Just look at all the stealth cuts local conservative councils make shoddy underfunded services. Lots of outsourced services with much lower pay for employees and big profits for the companies. It will be the same plan with a tory government

john, b,mouth, wessex

if britain was a pet it would have to be put down, and brown would be in the dock for causing unecessary suffering and deprivation to dumb voters.
presumably his defence would be "in these difficult times, mainly due to problems overseas, you must realise it wasnt a dead parrot but a global bird"

m pugh, birmingham, west mids

Gery

That would be the same thatcher government that inherited the country from labour last time it was bankrupt. Not much an incoming government can do with a three legged donkey. Economy was fine when conservatives left office in 1997.

Chris, Leeds, UK

Maybe our people are starting to realise that if the problem is too much borrowing then the solution cannot be to throw much much more money at it. Surely the defintion of insanity is to do more of the same thing and expect a different outcome.

John Laycock, Minehead,

Dear World. "Prices may go up as well as down". Our economic position is not a Labour problem, its basic evolution. The next step is tighter banking regulation (learning from mistakes) coupled with massive growth in the 'green economy' to secure energy independence from non 'ball-playing' govts

Jamie, Wickford, UK

Gery,what was so 'dark' about Thatcherism? She gave the country back its pride, gave many people a chance to own their own homes. Paid off the mess that Callaghan had made, supported and encouraged small businesses that made a profit(the miners didn't) and backed self reliance, not State dependency.

Andy, Liverpool, UK

It's sad when 46% think things will get better - totally misplaced optimism.
As for media exaggeration, whatever is reported now is only an entree for the rest of the year. With the probability of a further 0.8 to 1 million plus additional unemployed in one year, it's difficult to exaggerate.

Padraig, Perth, Australia

A dead weight will only bounce once.

Mike, Brighton, England

David Parkins - in case you don't have a calender in Markfield, Thatcher left office nearly 19 years ago; and yes, many of us do think that Cameron is perfectly capable of leading Britain in the right direction at this time.

James, London, England

i cant believe there are posts on here saying i remember what the tories did in the 80s. havent u noticed what britains like now and how bad its going to get?
if your memories so good Gary, maybe you can remember things like the winter of discontent, i hope your looking forward to that under brown.

will, grimsby, uk

@ David Parkins / Gery. Forget mindless socialist propaganda guys. Open your eyes and look at the state this country has been left in by Blair/Brown. Society and the economy is in tatters. Also, dont criticise a fair poll because you don't like what it says. Thats the sort of thing Lab do. oh, wait

gav, Hull, UK

David Cameron isn't Margaret Thatcher. Maybe there's some discontinuity in the space-time continuuum that means 2009 is 1979.

I'm happy to give David Cameron a chance. He can't do any worse than what we have ended up with now.

Tom Stickland, Stroud,

Gordon you have had your boom. now you are bust! Time to leave the stage and let David Cameron sort out the mess you have created.

Roger Parkes, T Wells, England

David & Gery: I remember what "Sunny Jim" Callaghan did to us as well, and I remember that Mrs Thatcher did a wonderful job of sorting the mess out. The parallels are too frightenlingly obvious. The longer the election is delayed the harder Labour will fall, and serve them right!

Richard Cooper, Dunstable, UK

Madness. They have nothing to offer. They will leave the bankers where they are and take it out on immigrants and unmarried mums.

Gareth, York, UK

What Labour has done to the country should come as no surprise. Every Labour Government has left the country in a worse state than when they took over. This has always included a huge increase in public debt and runaway public sector costs. Did we really expect this one to be any different?

John, Reading, uk

This is bad news, Brown definitely won't hold an election now so we can't boot him out as he so richly deserves.

David, St Albans, UK

Clarkson for PM, it's the only answer!

Robert Hitchcock, Redditch, England

TIME FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT - Like Obama it will CREATE OPTIMISM & CONFIDENCE...... General election needed asap. Confidence is a major factor in improving the economy!!

Jez, London,

Brown gets it wrong again.
At least he is consistant at one thing!

Martin Briggs, Old Basing, England

the problem we have at the moment in this crisis is that everything GB is doing, is purely being done to preserve Labour votes for when he calls or is finally pushed into an election... not for the good of the country...

paul cooke, gloucester uk,

When the media stop telling us all how awful the present economic situation is and how much worse it will get, maybe confidence will be given a chance to grow.

John Murphy, Bournemouth,

DickW in Aberdeenshire, as the only people to have ever voted for Brown and Darling are those in Scottish constituencies, what makes you think that English voters would not be overjoyed to see Scotland go it alone and join the Ireland-Iceland 'arc of prosperity'?

Paul, Coventry,

The real trouble Britain has is that one party can be elected to govern with less than 50% of the votes. They should have to team up with another party to make up for a real majority of at least 51%, otherwise it has a slightly totalitarian touch.

Morgan, Bristol, United Kingdom

Tories would be 20 points up with clear, can-do action plans
expressed in plain language and not sing song, I'm speechifying, mantras Cameron uses.

In this American Idol, reality show mad world presentation is EVERYTHING.
New breed of MPs needed. REAL people.Oh, and democracy.

Leigh Vernier, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

nu labour are a National Disgrace.
Inept Corrupt Entirely Useless.

rick, newcastle, uK

Labour always bankrupt the country. I have seen it several times,and the worst period was the seventies and the winter of discontent .Most of the country was out on strike because the unions had all the power, labours paymasters. Margaret Thatcher was a breath of fresh air and a great PM.

Mabs, Northampton, Northants

The hardworking ,decent law abiding people of this country can see right through this incompetant farce of a government,hundreds of thousand will lose their jobs yet yesterday in the newspaper i read that Brown intends to let 130 thousand so called migrant workers in this year,we the people woke up

carol taylor, romford, england

The 'throw money at the problem and see what sticks' approach of the government is being seen through by the electorate.

Everyone seems concerned we're heading back to the 70's economically - not a good thing for labour!

Rob, B'ham, UK

Brown is begining to look old, he knows the game is up, and spending like lost soul he is. Our children and grandchildren will be paying for 50 years.

David Vinter,, Louth, Lincs,, UK.

What a surprise ? The public is beginning that this unreconstructed trotski'ite has spent money like its going out of fashion. He has bred a nation of 'can' work , wont work' slobs who have languished on the dole during the boom. Now that we are bust he is talking of tough medicine ....joke.

frank, swindon, uk

Whatever happens its the end for GB & GB (Gordon Brown & Great Britain).

Not sure why the Tories would want to walk into such a mess.

Adi, Reading, UK

Margaret Thatcher, the greatest Prime Minister since Churchill. Britain now needs a large dose of your medicine, not sure if Labour or Conservative are up to the task., but I will be satisfied with seeing the back of this dreadful government and unelected PM.

nigel, swindon, uk

Stephen Hargreaves, Australia,you state.."Whatever voters think now by the end of this year most of them will be poorer", most never achieved real higher wealth gains to lose it, it was all an illusion asset inflation,releasing equity, increasing debt, easy money more demand prices rocket then BUST!

Susy, Kent,

Whilst voters continue to vote for political parties, rather than individuals with good policies, they can expect the same two-step of "your turn my turn" and policies directed toward staying in power, rather than good government..

Tony Atkins, Cairns, Australia

Gery, What dark ages of Thatcherism? The only PM that had the courage to bash the unions, who needed bashing. Remember 3 day weeks of the 70's Labour govt, mountainous piles of rotting rubbish and general anarchy? - I do. Maggie let people buy their own council homes - unlike uncaring lab govts.

Duncan Gormley-Lake, Bournemouth, Dorset

When one hears a British Prime Minister say (or should I be saying quote) on the news "Not on my watch" then it really is all over, as far as I am concerned this country is now without any semblance of leadership whatsoever and the potential frightens me.

Ian G, Ashtead, England

the local elections will be the first big test on weather voters are coming back to the conservatives or not a sign of this will be the gain of derbyshire from labour along with nottinghamshire and lancashire, if the conservatives can gain thoes countys then they mean buissness, warwickshire as well

stuart gregory, hoby nr melton mowbray, england

To Paul Bahre.
People in the UK are blaming "liberal" (careful with this term as it means something different here than in US) because they are in power and have been for nearly 12 years while people in America blame conservative politicians because it is they that have been in power there for 8.

Neil Mungeam, Arundel, UK

Gery, Merseyside, U.K Why is it that when times are difficult there are always those who forecast the end of the world preceded by a return to 'Thatcherism'? Those of us with even better memories recall the economy that the then Mrs Thatcher inherited from Labour and how long it took to mend it,

Bernard, Edinburgh, Scotland

It is a bit daft to ask how Cameron has responded to the economic situation; he hasn't. He has just postured; that is all he can do as he has no power to actually do anything. He is the Opposition in the present Parliament.

Alan Hargreaves, Holywell, UK

No return to boom & bust

Gordon Hickley, Melbourne, Australia

Well GB is moving to the right and the United States is moving to the left. GB blaming their liberal politicians and the US is blaming their conservative politicians. Are the American people and the British public looking at this from different angles or what?

Paul Bahre, Granby CT, USA

Thatcher was the best thing for British business given labours failing in the 70's. Yet again Labour's tax and spend policies have wrecked the British economy. We are forecast to have the worst recession in the Western world no thanks to this Labour government.

Sam, Haverfordwest , UK

I couldn't agree more with Gery (Merseyside). I still remember the miners' protest suffocated by the police :( I remember them in my bones. The labours have given us rights, a law against discrimination on workplace and a more open access to education. It's the bankers that must do an effort now.

Harry, York, UK

"....voters are much less pessimistic over what the future holds for them..... 50 per cent saying things will get worse against 46 per cent believing they will get better...two months ago found 44 per cent saying things would be worse to 51 per cent."
Illogical analysis !!

Marek, London,

Brown is 2nd rate Perhaps we deserve him ?

john, london,

Whatever voters think now by the end of this year most of them will be poorer and nothing Gordon Brown does is going to make any difference, except to make things worse in the long run.

Stephen Hargreaves, Sydney, Australia

Why isnt there a vote of no confidence, Quickly !

Derek , huntingdon, England

Oh dear - 'Around a third of voters 32 per cent think the media have exaggerated how bad things are, against 22 per cent believing they have understated matters and 38 per cent saying the downturn has been reported accurately.' And here comes the tsunami!

Paul Freeman, London, England

Just as a matter of interest, has anyone reading this report ever been asked by Populus or anyone else for their opinions for one of these polls? I certainly haven't and I don't know anyone who has.

K Philips, London, UK

Labour allowed explosive increased costs of central and local government services not matched by improved delivery and way over inflation. Neither party has the political will to address this and we are paying a massive price. We need massive government reform and we won't get it.

John W Smith, Manila, Philippines

Remember , once they are in, it will be no easy matter to get them out. You can't change your mind a week later.

Gery, Merseyside, U.K

Tell me about it, I have the same problem with Gordon Brown. Except he wasn't even elected, just dumped upon me from a great height....

Stephen, norwich, UK

Scotland would like its independence now please and anyone South of the border unprepared to suffer either a Labour or Tory Govt would be welcome up here.

DickW, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Do you really believe that people would trust a man like Cameron with their lives when they can remember what Thatcher did to them not so long ago, I don't think so no matter what false polls you manage to concoct.

David Parkins, Markfield, , Leicestershire

Is this the end for GB, how can any business survive having to pay the highest fuel bills on record, the highest council tax on record. Why does Brown seem oblivious to this massive drain on struggling enterprises. Brown & Cameron have lost it.

tom jones, lowestoft, england

Putting the Conservatives in power will return us to the dark age of Thatcherism, and those of us with good memories will know all about that. Remember , once they are in, it will be no easy matter to get them out. You can't change your mind a week later.

Gery, Merseyside, U.K

Perhaps the UK populus has finally realised that Gordon has indeed not a clue what to do. Same old statements and phrases!
It's time to change the script, and the government.
"Clueless in Downing Street" starring GB as Prudence.
"Let's throw more money at it Darling" with Alistar D.
HELP............

Martin, York, UK