Gordon Brown

[snooky]

Does anybody actually like this man?
The latest quote from his bazaar memoirs accuses Salmond of being 'unhelpful' after the Glasgow airport terrorist attack. This from a man who was instrumental in the WMD war that, as we know, went a long way in ensuring peaceful co-habilitation. :rolleyes:
It amazes me that GB continues to stick his head above the parapet when he would be much better advised to stay ducked and avoid himself further embarrassment.

[CropleyWasGod]

Does anybody actually like this man?
The latest quote from his bazaar memoirs accuses Salmond of being 'unhelpful' after the Glasgow airport terrorist attack. This from a man who was instrumental in the WMD war that, as we know, went a long way in ensuring peaceful co-habilitation. :rolleyes:
It amazes me that GB continues to stick his head above the parapet when he would be much better advised to STFU and avoid himself further embarrassment.

I'll start....:greengrin

Bazaar memoirs? I couldny gie a souk.

:cb

[hibsbollah]

Extremely talented politician, changed a lot of things for the better in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but yes, he seems to have been an unpleasant man who made enemies easily. Better in the engine room than at the helm.

[speedy_gonzales]

The latest quote from his bazaar memoirs accuses Salmond of being 'unhelpful' after the Glasgow airport terrorist attack.
Not read any extracts but does it say in what way he was unhelpful?

[Smartie]

My family (as in my parents, myself, and my siblings) have been very much divided in our political opinions in recent years.

My parents are both Fifers, my Dad was good mates with Brown's brother when they were students and he has met Brown a few times through work.

My parents both love Gordon Brown, but I think it's that weird Fife thing where they trust their own more than anyone else, irrespective of how wrong or how much of a twat they are.

My youngest brother is in the Navy, is a devout Unionist and loves Gordon Brown, really admires his work as a politician.

My middle brother doesn't mind him too much, but his work has brought him into contact with a good few politicians over the past few years and he has a general dislike of most of them (they all wanted to be his best mate for a while, now he does a different job none of them can even remember who he is).


I think Gordon Brown is a grade A nugget and have no time for him whatsoever. Whether it's the arrogance of believing he could end "boom and bust", his speeches to save the Union or flogging off the UK's gold at rock-bottom prices - I just don't like him, I just don't get him. Funnily enough he'll probably be most criticised for his role in the financial crash - I actually thought he did ok around that time, and I often think that when someone is as deeply entrenched in the causes of something like that, they are in the best position to lead us out of that. I'd have preferred Brown over Cameron's austerity every day of the week.

He is one of a handful of individuals whose appearance on Tv will actually make my blood boil though.

[JeMeSouviens]

Not read any extracts but does it say in what way he was unhelpful?

Brown says it was unhelpful to draw attention to the fact that the attackers weren't Scots. Salmond says he did so because the police asked him to in an effort to stave off any "revenge" attacks in Glasgow.


Reporting from the time: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6260158.stm


Mr Salmond said that the information he had received from the police indicated that community relations had not been damaged by the attacks.

'Stand united'

He said Scottish Muslims had been reassured by revelations that those responsible for the attack, and the attempted car bombings in London, had not been present in the country for long.

Mr Salmond added: "We should be exceptionally proud of our Muslim community in Scotland. They contribute enormously to the vitality of Scottish life and indeed to our economy and I don't think this incident any more than any other we have seen in recent years is going to divide our community.

[SouthsideHarp_Bhoy]

Does anybody actually like this man?
The latest quote from his bazaar memoirs accuses Salmond of being 'unhelpful' after the Glasgow airport terrorist attack. This from a man who was instrumental in the WMD war that, as we know, went a long way in ensuring peaceful co-habilitation. :rolleyes:
It amazes me that GB continues to stick his head above the parapet when he would be much better advised to stay ducked and avoid himself further embarrassment.

I think Brown and Salmond were never likely to get on. Both are apparently unpleasant to work for, and you dont get to lead your party and your country without habing some ego, some ruthlesness, and frankly a tough horrible side.

Add in that it suited both parties to make trouble for the other, and it was unlikelt that they were ever gonna besties. I doubt some of salmonds vices would have fitted with Browns either.

[easty]

I think Brown and Salmond were never likely to get on. Both are apparently unpleasant to work for, and you dont get to lead your party and your country without habing some ego, some ruthlesness, and frankly a tough horrible side.


Theresa May?

[RyeSloan]

Broony with his crystal ball out and about today...foretelling the Brexit story next summer no less.

Hope it's better than his forecasting of gold prices [emoji13]

[SouthsideHarp_Bhoy]

Theresa May?

What about her?

You dont think she has an ego or a tough side?

[easty]

What about her?

You dont think she has an ego or a tough side?

Ego, yes.

I don't think she's ruthless, and she doesn't have a tough horrible side, though.

[marinello59]

Ego, yes.

I don't think she's ruthless, and she doesn't have a tough horrible side, though.

She sat on her hands during the Brexit referendum so that she could take personal advantage of the situation no matter who won. That’s ruthless, selfish and horrible. I dislike her almost as much as Thatcher.

[easty]

She sat on her hands during the Brexit referendum so that she could take personal advantage of the situation no matter who won. That’s ruthless, selfish and horrible. I dislike her almost as much as Thatcher.

I'd replace ruthless, selfish and horrible with maybe...toothless, selfish and feeble.

[Geo_1875]

I'd replace ruthless, selfish and horrible with maybe...toothless, selfish and feeble.

She's far from toothless and feeble. She may have been 4th or 5th choice to take over as others looked further ahead but as an ex-Chair of the Tory party she'll have made strong allies both inside and outside the party and will know where the skeletons are hidden. She won't go down without taking a few careers with her.

Selfish is a given as a Tory.

[snooky]

She's far from toothless and feeble. She may have been 4th or 5th choice to take over as others looked further ahead but as an ex-Chair of the Tory party she'll have made strong allies both inside and outside the party and will know where the skeletons are hidden. She won't go down without taking a few careers with her.

Selfish is a given as a Tory.

And don't forget pig-headedness. :wink:

[Colr]

Does anybody actually like this man?
The latest quote from his bazaar memoirs accuses Salmond of being 'unhelpful' after the Glasgow airport terrorist attack. This from a man who was instrumental in the WMD war that, as we know, went a long way in ensuring peaceful co-habilitation. :rolleyes:
It amazes me that GB continues to stick his head above the parapet when he would be much better advised to stay ducked and avoid himself further embarrassment.

I quite like Gordon Brown. He did a lot of good on poverty when he was chancellor and without his swift action co-ordinating the response to the financial crisis we would have seen much graver consequences.

History will judge him more kindly than is being done at the moment.

[-Jonesy-]

Hate Gordon Brown and hate seeing him wheeled out to promise devo-super-max-federal-pure-dead-healthy-brilliant-non independence or whatever they call their lies now.
Remember the vow? Absolute bellsniffer

[ronaldo7]

Gordon Brown continued on with the Tory PFI and gave us Billions of £££ of debt to payback for his Tory friends.

It's time the BBC stopped wheeling him out on our TV's.

[Mibbes Aye]

Fine intellect and a genuine passion for social justice, which is more than can be said for many of his critics.

Especially the former.......

[RIP]

Been sucked into protecting the British State with the Darling/Brown ******* child of Better Together aka Scotland in Union

[lord bunberry]

He’s like a washed up celebrity appearing on big brother. He should sit back and enjoy his retirement.

[SouthsideHarp_Bhoy]

As a more general point, notwithstanding people's views of Brown, i do think that 'former' politicians like him, especially very senior ones, have a valuable contribution to make - amazing experience, intellect and insight, all freed of the shackles of party lotalty.

I find they often gain a statesmanlike gravitas.

Personally, if scotland ever created a sexond chamber of parliament, id be all for theae guys getring seats in it.

[snooky]

As a more general point, notwithstanding people's views of Brown, i do think that 'former' politicians like him, especially very senior ones, have a valuable contribution to make - amazing experience, intellect and insight, all freed of the shackles of party lotalty.

I find they often gain a statesmanlike gravitas.

Personally, if scotland ever created a sexond chamber of parliament, id be all for theae guys getring seats in it .

I think I'd move to England. :wink:

[SouthsideHarp_Bhoy]

I think I'd move to England. :wink:

They have one there too...!

I think Brown must habe refused his seat in the Lords, as did Salmond and McLeish i think? But not Jack McConell...

[snooky]

They have one there too...!

I think Brown must habe refused his seat in the Lords, as did Salmond and McLeish i think? But not Jack McConell...

Shockeroony! ............ not.

[lucky]

He’s a very intelligent man who was a good Chancellor but not enough of a personality to be a PM. I’ve met him a few times and he’s dour and grumpy, not the sort of guy you’d want to go for a pint with.

Salmond is great political operator but I can’t stand him but that’s generally down to him being a Nat and a Jambo but I’d rather go for a pint with him than Brown because at least he’s got personality

[Colr]

He’s a very intelligent man who was a good Chancellor but not enough of a personality to be a PM. I’ve met him a few times and he’s dour and grumpy, not the sort of guy you’d want to go for a pint with.

Salmond is great political operator but I can’t stand him but that’s generally down to him being a Nat and a Jambo but I’d rather go for a pint with him than Brown because at least he’s got personality

Nigel Farage thinks people like a pint with him but most would leave if he walked into a pub.

[trev the hat]

A story of his attendance in Gilmerton Miners Welfare during the Referendum, my mate stands in line when the handshakes are being dished out on departure. GB reaches out for said mates mit only to be greeted by a YES banner from behind his persona (with hand still horizontal for shaking) needles to say it wasn’t shaken & the mate was suspended from the club for around 12 weeks.
Browns puss was an absolute picture on realising he’d been had on his so called safe environment.