Cameron and Brown: separated at birth

Cameron and Brown: separated at birth, a photo by Teacher Dude's BBQ on Flickr.

Bring Me The Head of Julian Assange - Gordon Brown's latest blockbuster

Bring Me The Head of Julian Assange - Gordon Brown's latest blockbuster, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"The US embassy in London wrote off Gordon Brown within a year of his arrival in No 10 after concluding that an "abysmal track record" had left him lurching from "political disaster to disaster", according to cables released by WikiLeaks.

In a scathing assessment of the former prime minister, George Bush's last ambassador to London blamed Brown for presiding over a "post-Blair rudderlessness" which prompted senior Labour figures to complain of their despair to the embassy."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/02/wikileaks-gordon-brown-abysmal-prime-minister

Gordon "godfather" Brown

Gordon "godfather" Brown, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"That Cameron guy is going to be sleeping with the fishes"

My take on the Guardian's April Fool spoof Labour campaign posters.

So, Gordon we're in Afghanistan to preserve democracy? Would I lie you?

So, Gordon we're in Afghanistan to preserve democracy? Would I lie you?, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Gordon Brown accepts his ABC award for best newcomer on West Wing

Gordon Brown accepts his ABC award for best newcomer on West Wing, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Following hot on the heels of Hugh Laurie, Gordon Brown has taken the now well trodden path from British stage to Hollywood screen. Brown's guest appearance on the revival of the 90's classic TV drama, West Wing was enough to get him this year's ABC award for best newcomer.

Twitter News

How Gordon Brown paid West Wing Writers $40,000 for 'tailoring' speech

"Gordon Brown's speech to the US Congress in March earned no fewer than 19 standing ovations, a congratulatory call from President Obama and plaudits for its command of global economics and rousing call to action.

What American politicians did not know at the time was that at least some of it was the work of a Washington-based speechwriting company called West Wing Writers – which charged the prime minister $7,000 (£4,300) for its services."

The Guardian

UK MPs' expenses - We're still closing in

UK MPs' expenses - We're still closing in, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

UK MPs: "We're not paid enough"

Gordon Brown loves you., originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"MPs were accused yesterday of a massive cover-up of their expenses after the Commons authorities released hundreds of thousands of claims documents and receipts with huge sections of detail blacked out.

Amid renewed public anger over the scale of Westminster's spending habits, the documents contained enough fresh information to create new embarrassment for senior politicians.

David Cameron was forced to pay back an extra £947, the shadow chancellor, George Osborne, was reported to the parliamentary commissioner for standards and Gordon Brown was revealed to have charged the taxpayer almost £6,500 to green his second home in Scotland.

Even Tony Blair found himself under the spotlight after the documents revealed that he had claimed almost £7,000 for roof repairs two days before leaving office and standing down as an MP.

With MPs reeling from public anger at the extent of their claims, Bill Cockburn, the chairman of the body responsible for setting their pay, chose yesterday to suggest that MPs deserve a pay rise of up to £10,000 a year, arguing that they were underpaid by 10-15%.

It was also disclosed that 184 MPs – over a third of the Commons – have agreed to pay back nearly £478,000 in inappropriate claims, including Brown and ministers Douglas Alexander, Alistair Darling, Yvette Cooper, David Miliband, Ed Balls, Rosie Winterton, Andy Burnham and the former home secretary Jacqui Smith."

Guardian

To check out other expense claims check out this BBC webpage.

England prevails - V For Vendetta updated

England prevails - V For Vendetta updated, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Honoured and humbled by the trust you have given me, I speak to you for the first time at our conference as High Chancellor of this country.

No one could have foreseen all the events that England has been through since June.

But tested again and again the resilience of the English people has been powerful proof of the character of our country.

Early on a June morning, two cars were found parked and packed with explosives in, London.

They were put there to bring terror and death to men and women who would do nothing wrong but be out with their friends, walk on our streets and visit our capital.

But from the bomb disposal experts who courageously risked their lives, to the Londoners who defiantly went on with their lives, that day the world witnessed the resolve and strength of the English people.

And when the Muslim terrorists tried to attack the country's biggest airport, they were answered by the courage of the police and firefighters and a baggage handler named John Susan. He came to the aid of a policeman under assault from one of the Islamic terrorists.

Later John told me it was instinctive, he was doing what was right.

That man, that hero John Susan is here with us today and on behalf of our country - John, we thank you.

Every citizen who answered the call of the country - policemen and women, our security and emergency services, our health services - all left their mark on this island's story by keeping us safe. They are the pride of England.


Just as our armed services with bravery and heroism every single day also make us proud. We mourn those who have been lost and we honour all those who in distant places of danger give so much to our country.

It was in these early weeks, in the wake of the worst flooding in almost 150 years, in county after county, we saw the English pull on their boots and pull out their boats to rescue neighbours and strangers.

And together they went to work to clean up the streets, sweep out the shops and reopen the schools. Long after the waters have receded the memory of their quiet strength remains.

They too showed the character of England: communities where buildings can be damaged and even destroyed but our spirit is indestructible. They too make us proud of the extraordinary resilience of ordinary English people.



And then on an early August morning in Surrey, a doctor went out to treat to his patients and what he saw terrified him, made him remember back to 2001 when all across our countryside clouds of smoke scarred the sky and for many in cities and villages, family dreams were turned to ash.

During the outbreak this summer, our health official, scientists, and public officials in SO15 cancelled their holidays. To fight the contagion doctors worked day and night. And they have done it all over again this month and continue to do so. Their actions live out our shared understanding that our world is threatened by invisible enemies surrounds, that stalk our towns and cities.


And as we saw again this summer there is no answer to the spread of infection or to Islamic terrorist attacks that can strike at any time, anywhere in any part of our country.

And sharing this same small island, we will meet our environmental, economic and security challenges not by splitting apart but when we as England stand united together.

So my sense of talking to people in all parts of these lands is that instead of leaving us pessimistic, these three months make us more optimistic about what we the English people at our best can do.

Our response was calm and measured. We simply got on with the job.

England has been tested and not found wanting.

This is who we are.

And there is no weakness in England today that cannot be overcome by the strengths of the English people.

So don't let anyone tell us England is not equal to every challenge.

Strength through unity, unity through faith.

ENGLAND PREVAILS.

For the full transcript of High Chancellor Adam Sutler's speech click here.

The sad thing is that to change these ads and speech by the current UK government into a speech straight out of V for Vendetta required me to alter less than 50 words. One hard knock, a few months of hard times and who knows what awaits us? To see the movie click here.