A couple of comments below from contributors in Spain and New Zealand describe Brown's caring and humanitarianism.

Gordon Brown quite deliberately doubled the tax on the poorest in society from 10% to 20% in his final Budget. He then had the cheek to call this doubling an 'abolition'.

Sean, Surrey, UK

Our meagre disposable income has dropped by 15% because of £sterling's fall against the euro during the past year.
As pensioners, we are disgusted with MPs defending their perks and privileges vis-a-vis their NEED for a London home.
Brown is nothing but a hypocrite bowing to favourable breezes.

Kelvin Hughes-Price, CHAMBERET, France

Somebody tell him we are not interested in what makes him tick - after a decade of lies, taxation and waste we want to see his unelected back leaving No.10 for the last time heading towards his homeland on a one way ticket to obscurity.He has sucked this country dry and given us nothing in return.

philip, Ipswich,

Brown feels our hurt. How?

Does he pay Council Tax? No.
Has he had a pay cut? No.
Has his child been knifed? No.
Must he travel on expensive, unreliable & dangerous public transport? No.
Has he got MRSA? No.
Does he shop doing anxious sums about food? No.
Are his homes cold? No.
Etc.

Shan Morgain, Newport, Wales UK

What we need is a brand new party that treats us as adults, doesn't take all our money in taxes as it feels we are too stupid to spend it correctly ourselves.

And they should declare zero tolerance on MPs or anyone with access to public money wasting it or employing relatives.

Alison , Brighton, England

Never mind, Gordon. Even though you may be biting your nails today, at least you can afford to treat yourself to a nice manicure tomorrow. Unlike us worried singleton secretaries and admin workers earning under 19K who will be cutting back on luxuries now that you have scrapped the 10p tax band.

Katie, Newport, Wales, UK

O.K. listen Gord, it is not just the things you cite that the people you are there to serve are upset with, include: Broken promise on a European referendum, control freakery, undermining parental roles, dumbing down of education, overtaxing, overspending (wasting), uncontrolled immigration etc etc.

Ann, Bristol, England

I listened very carefully to Mr Gordon Brown on the 9.00 AM show on BBC1 as the cost of living is really pinching hard and along with millions of UK citizens am worried abt what the Government is doing abt it. Sorry.Not convinced that he is concerned and is capable to lead us through this crisis.

Kirit Lakhani, Leicester, United Kingdom

Listen Gordon, it's quite simple. We don't like you. We don't trust you. We didn't vote for your leadership. Your years as Chancellor became very expensive for us with your multitude of stealth taxes and general mismanagement of the economy. The cost of living has seriously increased. Please go soon

James Kildare, London,

Gordon Brown strikes me as honest and caring. All parties and politicians are at the mercy of events for which they either get blamed for or claim credit for but, if they are honest, have little control over.

Richard Andrew Jefferies, Castaño del Robledo, Spain

He feels the hurt we feel everytime he claims his inflated expenses. This includes Sky Sport subscription. I feel much better now. Everybody else feel better too ?

Alan, London,

He "feels our pain". Oh, that's alright then. Carry on Gordon, because we are all so stupid anyway, aren't we. Having inherited a strong economy, you have plundered it whislt wrongly cllaiming the credit for it. Yes, it does matter when the going gets tough. Your first reaction is to blame USA.

Harry, St Albans,

It is just the way with this world. Gordon Brown may not win an election as leader. Barrack Obama may not win the America presidency.

Mike Sen, London, United Kingdom

I quote:

'I am to blame for Labour woes' Yes, but not entirely.

Tony Blair is also to blame for a great deal of today's Labour's woes.

Sooner the wretched Nu Labour lot departs, the better. Just go away - before the end of the year, will you?

CathyK, West Sussex, England

I cannot get my head round the fact that nobody inc MPs of EVERY party saw the effect of the abolition of the 10p tax band when it was announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown in his 2007 budget speech. I did! Shame on all members of the Commons!

P Thompson, Blackpool, Lancs

I only see Gordon Brown from a distance (living in New Zealand) but what has really struck me is his humantarianism. He strikes me as a very intelligent person with much more substance than Tony Blair. He reminds me of British Prime Ministers of 50 years ago.

David Famularo, Featherston, New Zealand

What a load of utter rubbish. If he understood at all what we are having to put up with, he wouldn't have introduced these idiotic policies in the first place. The guy is a complete sham who is only interested in filling his and his party's pockets at our expense.

Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, Bucks

Paul, Wolverhampton says: “We, the British people, do not like having an unelected leader choosing the fate of our nation.”
The bottom line for labour is that many more People support Paul’s view than support Brown.

Zen, London,

He's down but not out. We're stuck with him until we have a viable opposition or alternative. He's intelligent and has just had his guts punched. There remains a glimmer of hope that he is a Good Man who's up for it. (Better him than Blair's spin or Cameron's vacuity). But is he really listening?

Mike L, Chippenham, Wilts

Still out of touch. Reason voters went against labour is because of public sector pay.
Who do you think your main voters are Mr Brown. Yes youv'e guessed it the public sector.
You shafted us!!!!!!! Now you know what it is like!!!!!!!!
140000 laughing policemen laughing in England an Wales

Tony Walker, Midlothian, EH224JJ

The economy is in long term decline due to divorce and the associated costs, not least in education.
Mr Brown has done nothing to reverse this trend, but politically there was very little he could have done. His day to day management of the economy has been as good as anyone could expect.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

Now that Scotland has a leader who is accountable to Scottish voters in issues such as the health service,education ect.
How about a English M.P. with similar powers who is accountable to English Voters .Sorry Mr.Brown you are M.P.
for Cowdenbeath so you have no Mandate south of the border
.

john, hartlepool, england

If Brown is listening he should resign now. Middle Britain has been taxed to a standstill. We now have back Old Labour of tax and waste plus the addition of spin. It's a shame it's taken so long for the electorate to wake to this fact. Can we trust their promises. NO. The proof, EU Referendum.

TC, London,

There is something i am missing. Gordon takes all the credit for the strength of the economy over the last 11 years during which time the global economy has been strong but the moment the global economy turns against us he effectively holds up his hands and pleads its not our fault.

Jim, Devon, Uk

Brown is to blame, where is accountability these words are just soundbites. I have had my personal pension plundered his grab for increased taxes and Brown will walk away with a gold plated pension. I have had a 75% increase in council tax whilst his fellow MP's claim council tax on expenses.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

''...Gordon Brown oversaw one this country's most financially successful periods....''

Absolutely not. He failed to manage inflation, sold off the Gold reserves and that's just to start. What he has done - to the housing - in allowing it to overhead so badly is tantamount to negligence.

Michael Clarke, Windsor, UK

Brown looks like a undertaker,sounds like a undertaker, behaves like an undertaker, in fact he is, look at what he is about to do, bury our rights in an illegal transfer of what power we have left to Brussels.

E Pryor, Gravesend, UK

Excuse me whilst I throw up hearing that Browns the main man. Brown is not the solution, he is the problem to most of the economic failings in Britain today. Tax & Spend is his mantra and along with selling all our gold reserves and stealing our pensions, he's now down to taxing the poor.

Mike, Alicante, Spain

Gordon Brown spouts the phrases he has been told should work "I feel the hurt they feel" really?

Gordon has spent 10 years taxing anything he could - family cars, private sector pensions and squeezing everything.

And 10 years brooding and opposing reform, and plotting how to become PM.

Why?

Graham Scrimgeour, Edinburgh, Scotland

He says he is going ahead with the 42 days plan. What happens if he loses the vote? A huge majority and still a lame duck? If he's listening its not to us. And we know we have the highest fuel taxes in the world, why doesn't he reduce the taxes on fuel at least temporarily? He's not fit 4 purpose.

David B, Larkhall, UK

I spend a lot of time abroad for my job and used to look forward to returning to the country I loved to call home,England.Sadly that feeling has completely changed into a tense almost ashamed mood whenever I think of home now.Blair & Brown have made such an appalling mess it makes me want to cry.

D.Heath, London, England

Thank heavens! All I wanted was for Gordie to say he felt my pain. What about messing up the Pensions system? What about ruining the housing market? What about driving up the costs of motoring? What about doubling the cost of the NHS without getting too much improvement? I have a lot more pain!!

Frank Keegan, Alderley Edge,

Brown has less excuse than any previous British PM - he grabbed unprecented power/control as Chancellor for 10 years leaving Blair to do PR & foreign policy - the problems now are almost 100% caused by him over the last 11 years
Dreadful "B" movie contrition acting on Andy Marr show today-squirming

Colin, Reading,

Gordon Brown oversaw one this country's most financially successful periods.Unfortunately for Britain, and the rest of the world, we're experiencing financial instability; the single factor for recent poll results.There is not another man better placed to lead us through these tricky times.Cameron?

Darren Potter, Solihull, England

England has been taxed to death by "Brown Labour" - we have been made to fell guilty about being old, having / using a car, plastic bags, parking, trying to get our children properly educated, if we go into hospital we catch something far worse than what we went in with - but Cameron? - no thank you

Marty, London,

Heaven help us! The electorate has just shouted from the roof tops in the clearest possible way that they don't want any more to do with this labour Government. Brown says he is listening. But what did HE hear? That Labour should try harder? That is NOT what we all said, Mr Brown. We said GO.

Pete, Portsmouth, UK

Inverted spin. If I look sorry I can go for the sympathy vote eh.?

Anyone fall for it?

A professional at this level would NOT get it wrong after being there for a decade or more. Mind you perhaps a decade in the job is still not enough for incompetent fools who ran/run New Lab.

Paul, London, Canada

I don't think the British electorate will ever give Gordan Brown a mandate to govern no matter what he does in the next 18 months

paul, bebington, uk

Too little, too late Mr Brown. I don't believe you. I don't think you can change from the tax and spend arrogant chancellor you were. You said you have a vision. The only vision you pocess is political opportunism and staying in power as long as you can.

Time for a change

Simon, Nottingham, UK

If Brown had any honour whatsoever he would call a general election. He didn't give the people of this democracy a choice as to whether or not he should lead us when he stepped into someone else's shoes, now the people have had their first chance to have a voice the message would seem clear.

Carl McGuire, Leeds,

Labour not only has lost the trust of the general ppulation they are actually loathed by an increasing number of people for what they have done to this country.

No matter how they spin this they are out of power at the next election.

Richard, Essex,

The relaunch is happening already.

But where are the ideas? Brown is resolute and determined but then I don't think we ever doubted that. He is resolute and determined to cling to office. But he lacks the originality of thought to do anything new and it is that part of leadership we need now.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

It would be a mistake for all parties to believe that this is just about a 10p rate of tax.Gordon Brown and the Labour party, has cultivated a section of society to the detriment of the honest hard working core and Cameron seems set to follow the same path.De Ja' Vous.

Mike, Peterborough, Cambs

Our aim is not that we are all equally poor but simply more equal. Social justice is laudable. If allied with freedom I think not many people will quarrel with it.

Jaap den Haan, Namen,

If he were truely listening, or understood what the nation wanted he would call an election today. We, the British people, do not like having an unelected leader choosing the fate of our nation

Paul, Wolverhampton,

No you're not listening Gordon you're telling us why voters deserted Labour - unnecessary because we already know. We're not taken in any more. Labour is incompetent (lost data), wasteful (tax and more tax), untrustworthy (EU ConTreaty), blinkered (immigration) and arrogant (Balls 'So What!)

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

Gordon Brown needs to repeal all the new laws broungh in under TONY BLAIR, no more fines for stupied things. Bin Fines etc. TAX needs to be brought back to 1979 levels of tax, FUEL tax needs to be reduced. The holding of innocent people claiming they are Terrorist needs to be scrapped.

Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK

Great now Labour is listening isn't it? Pity they couldn't do that BEFORE they were ripped apart on Thursday! I think we, the British people and our media have been shouting loud enough. Maybe Gordon has only just turned on his hearing aid. I fear it's a little too late, the damage has been done.

Daz, Netherton,

The problem is not New Labour it is policies, policies that offers workers nothing. Crimilalising poor people, these new laws that has played into the hands of the government that does nothing for the people paying MP'S wages or the Governments wages, who wants to pay someone for making life worse.

Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK

If he was listening he would call a general election today...

nick, POS, Trinidad

Brown declared this morning that when people understand the current economic situation they will be more sympathetic to labour. This certainly fits in with his presbyterian upbringing. Do as I say, take what I give and spread the word.

mike lincoln, wakefield,

Its reasonable to expect Brown, or any other politician to listen. But not to carry out policies which are simply not compatible with Labour.
Leaving the EU, abandoning human rights and equality, and ending immigration are policies of the BNP or UKIP.

Mike Homfray, Liverpool,

He still does not get it, having taxed everyone to the hilt over the last 10 years, he has been a disaster. If he thinks the current problems have been caused by somebody else he is dreaming. He has squandered money on an industrial scale. He has destroyed the pensions of millions.

gary, evesham, uk

M Turner:
"I would like to see a first female leader for a change".

Harriet Harman? Ruth Kelly? Hazel Blears?

Good luck with that.

Goodbye New Labour, and good riddance.

Steve B, Lincoln, UK

Mr Brown you clearly do not understand how tough it is for people out there in the U.K.
You have asked the poorest paid to burden the greatest responsibility by increasing their tax burden excessively with the loss of the 10p rate. I have not seen you cast your eye over the richest/highest paid.

Joe, Geelong, VIC Australia

just quit mr brown.

jean, london, uk

OK Brown so you're listening .... We want :

1. Out of the EU
2. Abolition of Yuman rights and PC.
3. More Police and massive crime reduction
4. Petrol / Food we can afford.
5. An end to immigration, repatriation of 'illegals'
6. Proper standards in education

Thats just for starters!

Steve, London, UK

Mr Brown probably resides in the best of all worlds, where effects are caused to such an end. And having a Darling in his cabinet enhances his residency. The population at large would like to know the effects to be caused upon the efforts they make to turn up for work, or simply to live?

Garry Crush, Hadano, Japan

If Brown were genuinely listening the the people of this country, he would resign today.

Paul, Coventry,

It's an insult to the electorate that he assumes he knows the reason for the poor result. Already he has fallen into the trap of NOT LISTENING. Gordon - all your economic policies are flawed, you frittered billions, you misled us, we'd cheer if you admitted this and undid all the damage.

J Knight, London, United Kingdom

Its going to be difficult for anyone running our economy.

Most of the leavers have been tampered with and
besides,

most of it runs on foreign petrol.

M walker, Nr Bromsgrove, Worcs

Gordon Brown does not understand it! I, and probably a few million others in the UK, feel more than hurt. We are angry at being seen as simpletons, and discovering that each effort to secure our futures is thwarted by his deceitful gimmicks to grab funds to throw at his pet spendthrift projects.

Martyn L, Wallasey,

megz
anyone who can afford to run a 4x4 is not poor so £400 is fair to pay for a vehicle which has high emissions, takes up the road,and are a pain to most road uses.

david, Derby, England

Time for a change .Lets'have autmn General election. That would the real test for all competing parties.

Dr.K.A.Jaleel, Darlington, England

is there going to be a rethink over car duty? Paying over £400 will hit poorest hardest.

megz, glasgow, scotland

i think that labour can bounce back, however, the leader is an issue..i think the longer Brown holds on the worse things may get.

I would like to see a first female leader for a change, as it has been far too long in the coming. A strong female voice will resonate with the population.

M. Turner, London,