In the past four months many more children have died but sadly their parents have not had the support of world-wide media,the Pope,Gordon Brown, Sir Richard Branson and many others. Why can,t we now take a fresh look at the whole affair and think of these other poor kids that have died ?

robin hector, worcester, UK

Will it now be the case that every British citizen who is accused of a crime abroad, will get the same level of Top Government, Legal and Celebrity assistance to help in the fight for justice? I think not!! What is the definition of fairness and justice in 21st century Britain?

Judy, Cardiff,

Branson wants wealthy UK businessmen to pay McCann's legal costs. Why not ask all the UK newspaper & TV stations to donate the funds - after all, scandal is what sells the stories so the media can fork out now & consider it "salary" for the McCann's.

Lindsay, Cape Town, South Africa

Mr. and Mrs. McCann are innocent unless otherwise proved guilty in a proper and fair trial.

Until then, lets be compasionate and show support to these deseperate parents that are going through a terrible and inimaginable nigthmare.

Sonia Jaramillo, Madrid, Spain

Sonia Jaramillo, Madrid, Spain

It seems extraordinary that this couple who are after all suspects in a missing person inquiry have been granted special access to the prime minister, government and its spin doctors. I can't remember a similar case where this has happened.

Over the past week the family campaign appears to have moved away from Madeleine and become focussed on creating "reasonable doubt" for the parents by casting doubt on the evidence, even though the forensic tests are not yet complete and the parents have not and may never be charged with any crime.

I think that the family "doth protest too much" about slurs in the media when they theselves are providing much of the ammunition by trying to initiate a media dissusion of their version of the evidence while the investigation is still in progress.

Surely the time the time to provide "innocent explanations" about the evidence would be if and when the case come to court and not through slick PR campaigns coordinated by government spin doctors.

Katherine M, Sweden,

I believe it is just a move in a communication war between the Police and the McCanns. And I believe they are right to do so.
First, according to what we are said Mr Brown was "updated to the investigation". is it said he was asked to intervene? no.
Mr Brown is too good a politician to get involved in such a dangerous business. Moreover, Mr Brown knows very well there could be some backfire. But I see no problem in his being told of the situation. Besides it is quite often that Ministeries of Foreign Affairs, in Britain or anywhere else, are involved in the protection of their citizens accused of a crime abroad : It is one of the functions of consulates and high ranking official often intervene, whatever may be said.
At last, who started the "communication war"? The police who spend more time parading and leaking information to the papers to deny them two or three days later, than in looking for a girl who should be our first concern.

Ben, Paris, France

The stories get more ridiculous by the day. For PM's good, i can only hope and pray, that Mr & Mrs McCann are indeed innocent. Politicians have no business getting involved in such controversial issues. The police authorities in Portugal and the UK should be left alone to do their jobs, and PM should do his. The McCanns, from day one turned their daughters disappearance into a circus and really should be left to face the music.
By the way, what were Mr & Mrs McCann hoping to achieve by taking this to the PM???????? To convince the people in power, that they didnt kill their daughter? The bottomline is they are suspects in the murder of their daughter - the necessary investigations have to be conducted and in due course, they would either be found innocent or guilty. Running from pillar to post, looking for supporters and generally working up such a fanfare, really and truly, doesnt do much to help the situation.

Yinka. B, London,

In my opinion i think that send the question to the Leicestershire police will be a waste of time.
If the kate and gerry don't answer is not now that they do that, because they are arguidos and that give them the right to not speak.
But this is my opinion

Andre, Tomar, Portugal

"This wouldn't happen in Britain" - we've heard that often now regarding the McCann case.
I guess not.
In Britain: you have gangs of "killer kids" on the streets wielding guns & knives, killing other children & even killing adults. UK Police still can't find innocent 11-year-old Rhys Jones' killer. In UK hundreds of kids have gone missing since Madeleine went missing in Portugal.
The Brits criticise their own Police force continuously. British Police can't do their jobs properly for fear of criticism.
In Britain you can be a cannabis-smoker (10 joints in a day), one & a half litre wine (in a day) drinked-up grandmother baby-sitting your granddaughter who gets brutally mauled to death by a banned breed of dog in her back yeard which was let into the house - & get of SCOTT FREE - the kid gets buried & forgotten, the dog gets shot & 200 other of the same breed dogs get put to sleep.
But I guess it wouldn't happen in Britain!
I'm a British citizen. I'm appalled.

Lindsay, Cape Town, South Africa

I wish Gordon Brown would help me get a fair re-trial for my husband, who is an innocent man, and help clear our good names!! But no!!
Please find this little girl and stop messing about!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marie, st albans,

Are there MPs still wearing a yellow ribbon?
Is this level of government support to become the norm for all Britons involved in legal cases abroad? Where does Gordon draw the line? Will he support football fans who get arrested for trashing cafes? What about people who have car accidents? What about those two girls recently arrested in Ghana for allegedly carry hard drugs? Do they get support at this level of involvement?

john, Chatham, Kent

I think that regardless of class, religion, political intervention and any other factor that is being discussed at the moment which seem to have taken over the focus of attention regarding this case, a little four year old is still missing, maybe scared and desperately wanting and needing her mum, dad , brother and sister. Lets hope that whoever has her, is treating her humanely. I will continue to believe this, unless sadly, proven otherwise.

Lara, London,

Could someone tell the McCanns that the main thing is the child and not the media show? Doesn’t PM Mr.Brown anything else to do than supplying the McCanns with spokesman’s and others? Does this mean that the investigations are to be influenced?
Please let the police work.

Navas, London, uk

Well said, Dawn from the USA. If it was my daughter, I would do everything and use everybody I could to help to find her. The people jumping up and down have obviously had very soft lives and have no true compassion. This is not a reality show for the viewers to decide what the inmates should or shouldn't do. Gerry and Kate deserve all the help they can get to locate Madeleine. Gordon Brown and Richard Branson are also fathers and obviously have far more empathy and imagination than the lynch mob that has formed recently in both the UK and Portugal.

JL, Sydney, Australia

Dont know if they are guilty or innocent but I am getting suspicious of the goverment intervention in this case. Clarence Mitchell should no longer be able to use his powerful contacts as he no longer works for the goverment. Why did Gordon get involved from the start. He does not get personally involved with our missing children cases. What makes this couple so different to the parents of other missing children. Too much spin and the question should be asked why did they leave their children alone every night and in a creche through the day if they wer perfect parents as has been said.
Excellent article and thanks for speaking out.

Gail, cardiff, uk

so, there must be medical records proving she had contact with corpses that can back up the 'theory' of the sniffer dogs.....

JANE STIKLES, Oxford, uk

I'm quite disgusted at the way Mr and Mrs McCann and their family are exercising pressure at such high levels to demonstrate their innocence. What do they pretend with this ?to put pressure on the portuguese authorities so that the case should be dropped?Sorry ! I've lost all confidence in this couple. They care more about their public image than about anything else.

Rosa, frankfurt, Germany

Follow up on ALL of the leads you already have
Madeleine cant possibly be in Portugal right now
Use Logic
Commonsense
Outsmart the abductor
Get inside his head

J Britland, Fountain Valley, US

Yet another bandwagon sets off - this time the normal passengers (the McCanns and their indulgent media pals) are joined by the usual suspects when it comes ot a bit of free PR - Richard Branson and a PM whose whole government relies entirely on spin. This is all wrong. God knows Branson's money is his own so he is entitled to do with it what he likes. But this is absolutely none of the government's business. Let the investigation take its course - and may whoever did for the poor unsuspecting child finally face up to themselves and confess.

Tim, Kingston,

How sad to see the British government so keen on ruling in Portugal! Portugal has their own legal system and it should never be questioned by other countries. I as a Portuguese do not question the British legal system, even when I do not agree with it. Our police is very reliable and committed. They work very hard to solve their cases.
Living in UK I listen how many children are neglected, abused and killed by family members... Why is it so hard to believe that something is wrong in their story?

Portuguese, living in UK

Ana, Maidenhead, UK

My thoughts go out to all those parents of missing children who do not have the privilege of PM support.

Katy, London,

Clarence Mitchell knows what works: he has obviously advised the McCanns to release 'happy' photos with which to win over the public and turn things around for them.

I do hope they get Madeleine back. I am just sad that this whole saga has meant that I have stopped smiling and talking to children in the street for fear that their parents might worry I intend to snatch them.

Suzy, Paris,

A pity that Richard Branson et al did not rush in at the initial searching stage rather than at the stage of proving innocence.

Bill Atkins, Rehoboth Beach, USA

In response to Lia Ravara's comment I would say that many a good and loving parent(s) have left their young children alone for brief periods. When on holiday one is lulled in to a false sense of security. Against the odds one does not contemplate the extreme ever happening. My wife and I were in Portugal recently (without children). The people are wonderful.

FC Grace, Hamilton, New Zealand

What on earth are the Mccanns seeking to achieve by all this "spin"
The only people who stand a chance of finding Madalin alive are the portugese police,yet we are told they have ,no commented their interviews and are attemting to bully the legal establishment into only doing a partial investigation by parading" lots of well meaning celebs"who should know better,to influence the course of the investigation.The legal process should be left to run its course ,the same laws should apply to all of us,regardless of who we know

Michael John Boothman, ILKLEY, U.K

I wonder if all these dogooders would have supported a working class family in the same predicment

David Mann, Colyton, Devon

Why none of these important people so motivated to help Kate and Gerry are not doing the same to solve all the crimes involving children. I have not heard that Gordon Brown has made an effort to support Rhy's family!
Sir Richard Branson has not given a pound for legal support for that family or any other shooting victms from London Boroughs. Are they different?

Ana, Maidenhead, UK

Is anyone wondering who hired the car before Madeleines parents? I do not beleive for one second that these people have had anything at all to do with their daughters murder! A doctors job is to save lives, not end them!

Angela, Newcastle Upon Tyne,

The McCanns were ill advised to ride the media tiger. Now it is devouring them. It seems unlikely they will be charged, so will never be able to clear their names. Their best bet is to stop making statements, stop others making statements, clsoe their websites, stop meeting celebrities and withdraw into private life. Their daughter is almost certainly dead, they should try hwoever harsh it may seem to focus on living for their other children who desperately need normality.

julia, london,

I am astonished. Is Montesquieu definitively dead?

Margui, Barcelona,

I belive the McCanns are totally innocent and the british public should try to put themselves in their shoes and see how they would feel. I hope one day soon they get news about Madeline and where she is.

Barbara, Penmaenmawr, Conwy

Whatever will they come up with next.

KC, Basingstoke, Hampshire

I don't have strong views as to the possible guilt or innocence of the McCanns. Hoaever, I do feel that neither the whole media circus that they have encouraged, nor the fact that they are paying for hugely expensive lawyers and other advisers, are doing their reputations any good at all. Why do they feel the need to do all this? It doesn't help find their daughter and just makes people suspicious of them. They may think that all this is helping to clear their name, but I am sure that I am not alone in thinking that is has exactly the opposite effect.

How many other parents with missing children can or want to do this kind of thing? What is so special about the McCanns?

Mary, Brussels, Belgium

How is it possible for advisers to 2 police suspects in a Portuguese enquiry to have access to the Prime Minister?

Can we expect all British suspects to be given equal status in future or just those with a Scottish connection?

How is it possible that government media spin doctors assisted the campaign initially?

The ease with which this couple and their expensive team are able to have access to the media , to the rich and to government raises serious questions in our democracy.

Rob Green, Braintree, England

I hope that Mr Brown and those influential backers are all willing to contribute to other cases as well. Or maybe if they are so into doing good, they might want to take all the money they are willing to spend now and invest it where there are children alive and in real need. I think if the Mc Canns need money they ought to move into a smaller place and work real hard like other people who need to pay their bills. There are so many more important causes where high profile attention and money is needed. Of course it wouldn't get their names mentioned in national and international media every day reporting the good deeds. But it is good to know that Gordon Brown has nothing else to do in his job. At least Britain and world politics are in tiptop shape. That is very reassuring to know. He would have a good chance running for mayor in a small town in France, but for a top position in politics? I don't think so.

AR, Beausoleil, france

The ‘evidence’ gathered so far, seems so ridiculously thin that it’s hard to understand how things have got this far. Are we meant to believe that just because the Portuguese police submitted a 1000 page report to the preceding judge, this automatically means their suspicions had substance? Admittedly, all we have to go on is what’s been reported in the press. Whilst it’s difficult to decipher the facts, what’s transpired so far seems thin at best. Has everyone forgotten that Mr. Murrat became a major focus of the investigation after being identified by the press as ‘acting suspiciously’? The way this man’s life was ruined, both by the media and Portuguese police, tells you that the family need to take this step, if only to make sure that this case maintains some kind of focus. The speculation that this has caused, and previously with Robert Murrat, has done very effective job of sidling the real story of a missing girl - I believe the family are acutely aware of this.

R.Patel, Leicester,

Everyone keeps asking why the McCanns keep using the media. Am I dim? Isn't this the only way to keep Madeleine's face in the public so that someone can spot her and help bring her home? And isn't it true that, with them under suspicion, the search for Madeleine has faded a bit? So now they must use the media to clear their names in the public, so that people can understand that there really is an abductor out there, and Madeleine really is somewhere needing to be found. Does anyone honestly think they would rather be in the media 24/7, watched and/or criticized for everything they do, having no normal life, after 40 years of caring nothing about fame or being in the spotlight, instead of having their child back? They are sacrificing their lives to be in the media in order to do whatever it takes to find her. It's a testimony to how much they love her that they are putting up with all this so that they can keep awareness high. Many people would have given up under the pressure.

Dawn, Loganville, GA/USA

Has no one got any heart!! What happened to innocent until proven guilty. There is a child missing here. As a mother I can't think of a worst nightmare than to first ;loose my child and then secondly; to be accused of being involved. I don't care what mistakes they made in leaving her alone that night or the strings they are pulling now. I just want to see that child back with her parents where she belongs. Stop judging people and have some feelings.

Kathryn, Godalming, Surrey

Surely all British persons under investigation for offences offshore will now have one-to-one access to the PM or to his Public Relations !

No?

WHY ????

M.Lopes, Lisboa, Portugal

The McCanns used the media from the outset with the best of intentions.
To withdraw now would lead to inevitable accusations that they have something to hide.
They have no choice but to stay with it, and make sure they have the best of help and advice.
Meanwhile politicians should stay out of it until the judicial direction is clear.

Rachael Ward, London, UK

PM has been an influential supporter of the couple who has been declared official suspect by a police force in democratic european union country.
PM has come to the rescue of a Bank whose Board increased their pay just weeks before it asks governement support to stay in buissness.
PM is not selected by the people of the country in an election. Which country are we referring to?

De Silva, Northampton,

Some strange precedents being set here.

wombat, Newcastle,

The McCann case has seldom been out of the media during the last few months, and given some of the comments below I could well see why the family would look to a professional to handle the media. From what I can gather, given the way the press has turned on the family in Portugal, their next fear must be the risk of this happening in their own country – particularly when you take into consideration our medias long tradition of building people up, only then to tear them down.. If this happened, any hope of establishing what happened to their daughter would be gone, leaving instead a life-time of speculation. The insinuation that this is to do with spin or some kind of self-promotion is naïve-cynicism at best and implies the parents have a case to answer.

R.Patel, Leicester,

I like to remind everybody who left the kids by themselves?? One day they will respond to that not to us but to GOD himself.

LIA RAVARA, LISBON, PORTUGAL

When the McCann's one day sell their story the zero's will fall off the edge of the calculator.
I hope they don't forget the help they've had - & open a UK Help Find Missing Childrens' Fund.

Lindsay, Cape Town, South Africa

Presumably all British persons under investigation for offences offshore will now have one-to-one access to the PM? No? Oh I see. Only if the media profile is right. So much for an end to froth and spin.

Unless the PM intends to become involved in all offshore cases involving British citizens he should stay out!!!!

H, London,

I agree totally, too much time is being wasted on false claims when all energy and resources should be focused on the search for Madeleine's abductor.

D. Martindale, Ormskirk, Lancashire

I thinks the fact that their whole life and privacy have been tried by the media is horrendous. I have been subjected to the damage caused to swing the public opinion for sensationalism by media and I do not wish it on my worse enemy. Mr. Brown and everyone else must make sure that this is stopped. The investigations can go on privately and quietly.

Lady Elahe Tirvengadum, Floreal, Mauritius

'Mc'Canns hire Government's chief spindoctor'

would have been a better headline

Simon Osborne, hong kong,

In light of everything that has transpired over the past couple of weeks it would be prudent to seek less publicity for something that has gone from tragedy, public grief and empathy to a trial by media. Appointing Mr. Mitchell will not get them any closer to finding their daughter and if they are innocent the truth will come out in the end. They are doing themselves no favours in continually using the Media and PR people to get whatever message they want us (public) to digest. They need to defend themeselves from these claims but somebody needs to sit them down and ask what they hope to achieve by having their every move analysed 24/7. It's very sad and very uncomfortable. It's like Madeline has become a side note to the McCann media machine. How has this happened....

Gar, Ireland, Ireland

In light of what has transpired over the past couple of weeks it would be prudent to try and limit the amount of media exposure as opposed to embracing it like junkies. I really feel for the family and truly believe that the truth will come out in the end. I find it very difficult that a story that had me feeling total grief and empathy for the family has turned into a very dark chapter and that the McCanns feel compelled to continue living their nightmare through the media. If Mr Mitchell was hired because he would help in the search to find Madeline I could understand but obvioulsy he is not.
On the legal side of things how can their be a fair trial now?? Portugal against England....the tabloids will lap it up. Just waiting for the books, TV shows, Films, etc etc. Its like a very sick version of Big Brother....please stop.

Gar, Ireland, Ireland

This has nothing to do with the government, Gordon Brown should be concentrating on running the country, not courting publicity by getting involved in a missing persons case.

Doug Bates, St. Albans,

This a tough call, risk damaging relations with EU member Portugal or do the right thing by an upper-class Brit couple that can get more publicity than Paul McCartney.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

And Madeleine's still missing & almost forgotten amongst the "media-flying-circus".

Lindsay, Cape Town, South Africa