Brown's spend, spend, spend during his Chancellor's days has brought us into the current economy we are facing today. His appeal at a Downing Street meeting for the lenders to pass on cuts appeared to fall on deaf ears with HBOS, which owns the Halifax, increasing its rate on some mortgages from 6.09 to 6.59 per cent. Borrowers taking out this type of deal will now pay 46 more a month. On a two-year tracker, the rate will increase from 1.49 points above base rate to 1.99 points, giving a current rate of 6.99 per cent.

Other lenders are expected to follow Halifaxs lead.

If the Government wants the banks to lower mortgage rates to home owners - why not just offer them through Northern Rock? Everyone would rush to the Rock to get the loans forcing banks to match the rates or lose the business? Or maybe the government would then run into bigger credit crunch?

What is the Tory/Labour/Liberal tally at the moment for fraudulent claims. Total in cash value?

Mitzy, it depends on how you prostitute oneself.

I was thinking of Jeffrey Archer but is a Lord now.

Hallelujah!
Gordon's days are numbered now... step down before you get humiliated any further... let Cameron be KING!



Local elections: Labour suffers humiliating defeat

Labour has suffered a humiliating local election wipeout after losing control of its last county councils and heading for third place behind the Liberal Democrats.

The results of the elections dealt another huge blow to Gordon Brown as he struggles to survive as Prime Minister. Speaking in Downing Street, he called the results a "painful defeat" and said: "I accept my responsibility."

The dismal election results last night triggered public infighting in the Labour ranks, with senior party figures including John Prescott blaming ministers including Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, for the defeats.

Labour went into the local elections in control of Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

All four were lost yesterday, wiping Labour off the electoral map in the areas being fought, in an unprecedented rout.

Lancashire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire were taken by the Conservatives, hugely symbolic advances for David Cameron's party.

Nottinghamshire is now under no overall control.

The last time Labour lost Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire was 1977, two years before Jim Callaghan lost power to Margaret Thatcher's Tories.

Overall, Labour lost 250 of the 445 council seats it was defending. The Tories gained 217.

As well as losing those councils in its traditional northern strongholds, Labour was on course for a humiliating third place overall.

The last time these seats were contested, in 2005, the Tories got 40 per cent of the vote. Labour got 27.6 per cent and the Lib Dems got 25 per cent.

With 22 of 34 council results declared yesterday, a projection compiled by the BBC put the Tories on course for 38 per cent, the Lib Dems on 28 per cent and Labour on 23 per cent.

The Tories were also celebrating taking Devon and Somerset from the Liberal Democrats, two more key Tory targets. The Conservatives also took Warwickshire, previously under no overall control, but missed out on Cumbria, another target.

Despite their losses in the south west, the Lib Dems insisted they were pleased with their overall share of the vote and the fact that they kept the number of seats they lost down to only eight.

Mr Cameron hailed the results as proof his party is on course for a general election victory. He said: "What's remarkable about these figures and what shines out is it's the Conservative Party winning in every part of the country."

But the fall in his party's share of the vote, and the failure to take control of Nottinghamshire and Cumbria, soured the Tory celebrations.

Party insiders said it was a sign that public anger against politicians over MPs' expenses is hurting the Tories as well as Labour.

In a sign of public anger at the mainstream parties, marginal groups including the British National Party and the English Democrats made gains.

Mr Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, said that serving ministers like Miss Harman and Douglas Alexander, Labour's election chief, were to blame. He said: "It seems the people responsible for our campaign were resigned to defeat and were prepared to use the excuse that we had no money."

Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair's former communications chief, also criticised the Labour campaign. He said: "The lack of a clear and strong campaign based on defending the record attacking our opponents and consistently setting out an agenda for the future has been evident for some time too."

Miss Harman blamed the expenses scandal for the outcome. "I think that we're all facing disappointment in these results in the Labour Party," she said.

A year is a long time in politics.

I can remember a rugby game at "Twickers" a few years ago, when at half time Emgland were jubilant and the champagne flowed, only to find at the end of the match they had been "well and truly whipped"!

Can remember the team which did it, think they were a club side wearing red jerseys.

Perhaps the dressing room talk to the Labour Party may be on similar lines.

I wait and will see. i hope it won't be too painful to watch.

PS. Cameron reminds me more of Canute than a king.

Didn't he lose all the crown jewels and then rob the people in order to replace them!

Don't think so - surely it was King John. Canute tried to hold back the sea, in much the same way as Brown is trying to hold back the the anger, hatred, contempt and ridicule of the electorate that he has ridden rough-shod over for far too long.

In the words of the Moody Blues song, "If you gotta go, Go NOW"!

brown claiming for 2 houses..........darling similar and flipped house 4 times in 4 years.

brown promised sackings for abuse of rules......well he and cabinet should all be in jail......all used accountants.......esp darling and that means WE pay his VAT AS WELL!! UNBELIEVABLE

These are marxist and stalinist! what a joke

stalin was voted in 1st of all and he died with only 3 suits. brown has amassed millions in his pension.

stalin would have got him shot in a trench for that. and stalin got things done even if consequences were done........and russia is for russians, pure and simple unlike browns british jobs for british people nonense.

everyone knows the brits are leaving in their droves to other countries

also no-one respects britain anymore.......its just a tin pot country like other pathetic euro nations like italy

Chuf,
Apologies.
Unfortunately for me, I think you are right.
Canute, had a better ring to it.
But wasn't John a pillaging B.
I suppose for Cameron that would be a suitable comparison.
8-)

Chuf,


Just looked up Canute
===========================
King of Denmark and Norway who forced Edmund II to divide England with him; on the death of Edmund II.
Canute became king of all England (994-1035).
===============================
Sounds quite like what Wisteria is trying to accomplish.

I believe a better comparison would be Gordon Brown to Neville Chamberlain. Neville Chamberlain was the only Prime Minister to be forced out of office having never fought a general election as he took over unelected from Baldwin when he retired in 1937.

Frank Field just entered the fray again with an interesting comment about next general election (see order-order.com)

I hope the Labour rebels would nail the last nail on his coffin this evening.

Rumours that Purnell will stand- stalking horse?

Purnell is more like a wooden horse.

I doubt that the Labour party would be stupid enough to bring GB down before May 2010.

By the way, how many leaders have the tories had over the last 5 -10 years.

Watch the euro splitters start their work.

Come on Ken speak your mind!

i wouldnt ride purnell!! but i would a wooden horse.

purnell looks like a small boy in primary school

Gus
Just read Frank Field's comments. At least there is someone with some shred of integrity and honesty left who is not cowed by the bully-boy tactics of the whips and other political thugs who do the dirty-work of the leadership of the most self-serving, incompetent, arrogant, corrupt political dregs of the last 30 or 40 years.

stalin would have had the whole lot shot including brown and darling. stalin would despise browns huge pension and brown and darling misuse of expenses or housing.......death is the only consequence for this