believe it or not, zulu, Brown is highly respected everywhere bar the UK
i don't know how much clearer the terms global economic crisis can be - are you saying that Brown controls the planets economy?
for 10 of those 12 years we had year on year growth, low unemployment - believe me - it would have been disastrous for us if the tories had been in power last year 
i don't pretend that it's a tough call to believe me on this, in any case i don't vote labour so why i spend time defending brown is beyond me - he's at that stage which major reached whereby everyone is looking for change because they're world isn't perfect - happens to every government.
i'll give you a prediction - the tories scrape into power (perhaps even a hung parliament) DC serves one term where unemployment goes through the roof and public services are destroyed. he'll be out on his ear after one term and labour be back in again.
trouble is, people have forgotten what a disaster the tories in power are - everyone seems to go all misty-eyed over Thatch. maybe the best thing is a tory government - seems you need a reminder of how disastrous they were, trouble with the tories is they're made up of far too many grasping c's. DC is deeply resented by the old guard in the party as far too centrist, once they've got power the mask'll slip and the games will begin - they're not interested in the country- just their own small part of it 
]but what do i care - the tories won't get a look in up here - good luck the 
Brown is highly respected everywhere bar the UK...and what does that tell you bj, to me it suggests that the world is quite unaware of his abysmal record on the domestic front. Perhaps those fans of his would have a different viewpoint if they were to live here and be subject to his leadership?
Brown controls the planets economy..of course not but he is
supposed to have control of
this economy and where are we as a result?
for 10 of those 12 years we had year on year growth, low unemployment -...based on what bj, questionable easy credit and utter dependence on a centralised poorly regulated financial sector that seemed to have free reign to do what it liked?
it would have been disastrous for us if the tories had been in power last year ....but
they were not bj and haven't been
for nearly 12 years so the present mess is wholly down to the former Chancellor and present Premier.
he's at that stage which major reached whereby everyone is looking for change because they're world isn't perfect ....I would think that people need change because of the shambles the present and former administration has left this country in. The world is far from being perfect - but more importantly - neither is this country
seems you need a reminder of how disastrous they were,.....whist we should be guided by history, to continually refer to the past prevents us from addressing the present with objectivity.
The last 12 years will be and should be remembered as the time when government rode roughshod over democracy and civil liberties and when warmongers and celebrity seekers have created a situation that has polarised the nationbut what do i care - the tories won't get a look in up here - good luck the.......you should do bj considering the grant that Scotland receives from Westminster, or are you suggesting that Scotland would be capable of existing as an independent nation thereby not requiring the present financial arrangement with the Treasury?
Good luck with that one bj, I don't think true independence is a serious consideration at the moment and if you're depending on Alex Salmond to deliver a workable national administration for Scotland devoid of financial help from the British taxpayer Christ help you.