What went wrong for the Labour Party (brits)?

[tenni]

Ok...foreigner here but I'll give it a whack at the can.

There may be only a small group of respondents but

What went wrong for the Labour Party?

Was it Blair going off message of the principles of Labour?

Was it Brown's personality?

Will the Labour Party get rid of Brown?

Why is Fran so disenchanted?

So many questions...

[Canticle]

Ok...foreigner here but I'll give it a whack at the can.

There may be only a small group of respondents but

What went wrong for the Labour Party?

Was it Blair going off message of the principles of Labour?

Was it Brown's personality?

Will the Labour Party get rid of Brown?

Why is Fran so disenchanted?

So many questions...

All of that and more tenni.....an answer, which will probably nark you....but I haven't thought of a better one.....not yet!!

PS. Most British people hate being called ''brits.''

[tenni]

"Most British people hate being called ''brits.''"

Really??? So, sorry, I didn't know that.

[Canticle]

"Most British people hate being called ''brits.''"

Really??? So, sorry, I didn't know that.

Heh, Heh......well ya do now.....lol.....the oracle has spoken!!

[tenni]

Well, Canadians don't mind being called "Canuck"....back to the Labour Party though.

[Canticle]

Well, Canadians don't mind being called "Canuck"....back to the Labour Party though.

Oh, I think that is a horrible term.....yuck!

Told you, gotta think about this......watch this space!

Now, where is Fran?

[writersblock]

A combination of things.

1. Labour's failure to represent their core working class support.
2. Following on from 1, cosying up to big business far too much.
3. Brown's inability to communicate with the public and his more general lack of suitability for the role of PM.

If the Lib Dems come to some sort of arrangement with the Conservatives I'd imagine he'll be gone right away. If not, he may have a bit longer.

[Canticle]

A combination of things.

1. Labour's failure to represent their core working class support.
2. Following on from 1, cosying up to big business far too much.
3. Brown's inability to communicate with the public and his more general lack of suitability for the role of PM.

If the Lib Dems come to some sort of arrangement with the Conservatives I'd imagine he'll be gone right away. If not, he may have a bit longer.

Thank you....one or two items to cross off the list.

[RobUK]

Erm.. Tony Blair, George Bush, and Iraq.

[TrimBeardHairyBod]

I agree with writersblock and RobUK. To their reasons, I would add...

1) their mania for regulation, ID cards for example,
2) the perception of many that their civil liberties were being eroded,
3) various taxes introduced by stealth

and, last but not least

4) after thirteen years, it was time for a change.

[ukmale32]

I've been british for 37 years now, don't mind being called a brit. Labours problem is the same as any other party. Full of lies & broken promises. Some down to them, some down to circumstances. Or with the current economic problems the uk had that were down to (mostly) problems in America..
Gordon Brown was never elected, that's not right. A bit like George Bush Jnr - only not as hated. Bush then went on to get elected, unlike Brown. ..

As a comedian pointed out to me -

We wanted an American style tv debate, we got an American style outcome..

[Hephaestion]

I don't mind being called a Brit. What's wrong with it?


.

[mrplayfuluk]

we had our first TV debate US style and people saw Brown as an inappropriate ageing leader. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, unelected by the people (he replaced Blair while in power) and after 13 years of Labour in office people always want change, and have forgotten about Thatcher and Major. The recession didn't help and Labour was blamed along with the bankers for the mess. The irony is though that Cameron wasn't seen as strong enough by many (a bit of a toff), as a leader so we have a party, short of a majority like when you have a 'lame duck' presidency. So now the minority parties have a chance to have an influence over the future of the country as they decide who to get into bed with and whoever inherits power will be unpopular because they will have to make some painful cuts and tax increases to get us out of the mess; they will be damned if they do, or don't. Its gonna be interesting either way...... this hasn't happened since the '70s.

The Liberal party (the third biggest party) want will to agree change in the voting system before they will side with either of the other two, which would suit the Labour Party more than the Conservatives. However the Conservatives have more of the vote and seats under the current system as a result of this election, so they get first look. How it pans out will be fascinating....


Watch this space.

[Canticle]

I don't mind being called a Brit. What's wrong with it?


.


Well. I do. I'm British. English first. British second and I don't like abbreviations.

[Pasadenacpl2]

I have to say, you're the first person I've ever heard say that. I think it might be better to say that you don't like it rather than to say that most don't like it. I've never once heard anyone from the UK say they object to being called a Brit (except a few of the Irish I've known, but that's a different matter, they just didn't like being a part of the UK itself).

Pasa

[Canticle]

I have to say, you're the first person I've ever heard say that. I think it might be better to say that you don't like it rather than to say that most don't like it. I've never once heard anyone from the UK say they object to being called a Brit (except a few of the Irish I've known, but that's a different matter, they just didn't like being a part of the UK itself).

Pasa

Well, I am one very unique person........and my uniqueness says I don't like abbreviations, or the term ''Brit.'' How much more difficult, is it to say British.

One of Tony Blair's faults, was a liking for abbreviations, plus the wild hand gestures and facial movements. Carefully choreographed. No genuine charisma. What you saw was not what you got........unlike with Gordon Brown.

True Statesman are passionate about what they say...genuinely so. There are no great political orators, these days, no great speech makers, who stir the emotions.

It is said that the greatest British political orator, of all time, was David Lloyd George, the great Liberal party politician. There used to be passionate and truly Socialist, Labour party politicians, but not now...they are all tarred with the same brush. Corrupt and thinking only of their image.......unless it's Gordon Brown.......what you see is what you get, with him.

[Pasadenacpl2]

I will confess to not knowing much about British politics. I'm not in favor of socialist policies, so saying that someone is not a true socialist is a + in my book.

I will give you a view from across the pond, though. I have only watched Parliament 5 or so times with Tony Blair and probably 2 with Brown. As an American it was fascinating to watch Parliament in session and to watch the back and forth of debate. Tony Blair was enormously entertaining. I loved that he could give out talking points as well as make jabs at whoever was on the other side of the aisle and people on both sides of the aisle would be laughing when he got a really good one in. He had a flair for being able to debate, to poke fun, and still maintain a working relationship with the folks he poked fun at (mostly because he poked at their logic, and gave humorous analogies for their conclusions rather than poking at them as people).

I realize that there is probably much more to it. But from here, where the Senate and the House are not entertaining at all (and move at a snail's pace) it was inordinately fun to watch. Brown, on the other hand, was just as boring as any American politician of the last 20 years.

Pasa

[Hephaestion]

Well. I do. I'm British. English first. British second and I don't like abbreviations.

I express sorrow on your behalf but I point out that everyone else owns the English language. As such it may well be prudent to get used to being called Brit in the context of a discussion with people from all around the world. It is not inaccurate even though there may be more defining subdivisions.

The term Brit may be seen as embracing the British Isles and therefore includes N.Ireland even though the discussion is technically about the (dis)United Kingdom. It is appreciated that Britain is technically the mainland i.e the largest island, which means essentially England, Scoltland and Wales.

'Brits' is also convenient whereas 'voters / inhabitants of the United Kingdom' seems a little extravagent

Hope that helps.

[Hephaestion]

Pasa ".....I realize that there is probably much more to it. But from here, where the Senate and the House are not entertaining at all (and move at a snail's pace) it was inordinately fun to watch. Brown, on the other hand, was just as boring as any American politician of the last 20 years....."


Pasa, perhaps that was relevant? It probably did not do Brown any good to allow his tutored switch from smile to frown and vice versa to be caught on camera; it tended to broadcast an air of insincerity which was lampooned on TV and radio.

.

[darkeyes]

Fran Canticle me darlin', since ya asked.. wos out enjoyin 'ersel of a Saturday nite... an politics wos las thing she wonted 2 think bout..an in fact didn..

Will put me own slant on this thread in time.. but 2 day is me mum an dad's anniversary an so we off ova ther for a family knees up..

Ther seems tho 2 b a misundastandin bout Gordon Brown.. in fact Gordon Brown wos elected.. in the UK we do NOT elect a Prime Minister.. we elect a parliament.. and we elect a GOVERNMENT.. Brown was elected as one member of the party which won the election in 2006, just as Blair was.. when Blair resigned as Prime Minister, the government remained and it was their prerogative to elect from within their ranks a new leader who would become Prime Minister. THAT is how British parliamentary politics has worked for over two centuries. In the last century there are numerous occasions this has happened and did not, because it did not need to spark an election. The previous three occasions being Major after he succeeded Thatcher, and Douglas-Hume when he succeeded MacMillan, and Callaghan succeeding Wilson, the first two being Tories...

Let me ask this question.. when an American President dies in office.. who succeeds him? The VP..who may have been on the ticket but was not elected as President.. and if both died, say in a tragic accident or an outrage? Would it spark a Presidential election? No.. because there are procedures laid down to cover that eventuality.. it is similar in the UK except that in this country the governing party elects its leader from within its ranks and that leader replaces the outgoing Prime Minister..

So please..no rants about Brown never having been elected.. he was, as is laid down by precedent and and accepted practice.. which is why you will never hear from me any complaints about the Tories or anyone else replacing their PM should the incumbent resign or die in office..

About the wider question.. there is a great deal I would wish to say.. much has actually been said in posts so far.. some is quiet simply jibberish.. there will be a massive amount written about this election result and why Labour blew it.. much, not all.. but much of the explanation lies on the other side of the Atlantic with the causes of the economic crisis.. Labour has been overwhelmed and blamed by the electorate for it..not its handling of it particularly..but for the crisis itself.. whether that is fair or unfair is open to conjecture, but whichever party was in power.. such is the extent and seriousness of the crisis, they would have been swept from power.. in fact had the Tories been in power it is likely the extent of the defeat would be much much greater than that of the Labour Party.. not because they would be any more or less to blame, but because most parties which are not Tory, are left of centre parties and the major two have a solid base of something like 45% of the electorate whatever an election turns up. And in a bad year for the Tories? This would rise to well over 60%.. That's why the Tories hate the idea of electoral reform.. it would be rare for them to gain power with another electoral system..

Of interest may be the little realised fact that in the last century something like 20% of elections have resulted in a comparable result to 2010... so what we are going through now is not that unusual...

I know this post does not answer the question but it is pertinent.. I will later today or tomorrow try and provide Fran's own analysis of what what happened happened.. and why as Tenni asked.. I am so disenchanted in particular with the Labour Party..

[Canticle]

I express sorrow on your behalf but I point out that everyone else owns the English language. As such it may well be prudent to get used to being called Brit in the context of a discussion with people from all around the world. It is not inaccurate even though there may be more defining subdivisions.

The term Brit may be seen as embracing the British Isles and therefore includes N.Ireland even though the discussion is technically about the (dis)United Kingdom. It is appreciated that Britain is technically the mainland i.e the largest island, which means essentially England, Scoltland and Wales.

'Brits' is also convenient whereas 'voters / inhabitants of the United Kingdom' seems a little extravagent

Hope that helps.

I don't think you understand! I just don't like the term.....it's an abbreviation....and I don't like abbreviations........blame my Mum for that one.

[Canticle]

''Fran Canticle me darlin', since ya asked.. wos out enjoyin 'ersel of a Saturday nite... an politics wos las thing she wonted 2 think bout..an in fact didn..''

Enjoy life...too soon, is it over.....good on ya

''Will put me own slant on this thread in time.. but 2 day is me mum an dad's anniversary an so we off ova ther for a family knees up..''

Happy Anniversary to your folks from me. Hope you had a blast at the bash.

''Ther seems tho 2 b a misundastandin bout Gordon Brown.. in fact Gordon Brown wos elected.. in the UK we do NOT elect a Prime Minister.. we elect a parliament.. and we elect a GOVERNMENT.. Brown was elected as one member of the party which won the election in 2006, just as Blair was.. when Blair resigned as Prime Minister, the government remained and it was their prerogative to elect from within their ranks a new leader who would become Prime Minister. THAT is how British parliamentary politics has worked for over two centuries. In the last century there are numerous occasions this has happened and did not, because it did not need to spark an election. The previous three occasions being Major after he succeeded Thatcher, and Douglas-Hume when he succeeded MacMillan, and Callaghan succeeding Wilson, the first two being Tories...''

You are quite correct Fran, Gordon was indeed elected as leader of his party, when Blair resigned. I think that it is a pity that he was sort of elected unopposed, because this has tended to confuse people.

I can remember the days when Conservative Party Leaders were almost like heirs to the throne, if they were a leader in waiting. I well remember Alec Douglas-Hume, being given the post of leader of the Conservative Party and Quintin Hogg (Lord Hialsham), renouncing his title, standing for Parliament, in the hope of becoming leader of the party.

Pundits had long thought that Rab Butler, would get the post, but always he was overlooked and I do believe that he was a politician, admired by all political factions.

The Conservative Party came into the 20th century and actually started to have the MPs elect the party leader, with the election of Edward Heath. Not that he was anything, any better, than had gone before.

You're right on the political history too.....I don't need to repeat it.

''Let me ask this question.. when an American President dies in office.. who succeeds him? The VP..who may have been on the ticket but was not elected as President.. and if both died, say in a tragic accident or an outrage? Would it spark a Presidential election? No.. because there are procedures laid down to cover that eventuality.. it is similar in the UK except that in this country the governing party elects its leader from within its ranks and that leader replaces the outgoing Prime Minister..''

Exactly.

''So please..no rants about Brown never having been elected.. he was, as is laid down by precedent and and accepted practice.. which is why you will never hear from me any complaints about the Tories or anyone else replacing their PM should the incumbent resign or die in office..''

Absolutely correct. Also may I point out, not for you Fran, but for those from foreign parts, that Tony Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party, after the death, in office, of the then leader of the party, John Smith. The Labour Party was not in government, but sat on the Opposition Benches, as the government was a Conservative one. The same procedure took place. People stood for the leadership and Blair won the most votes. Doesn't matter if a political party is in government or opposition, the same procedure takes place.

''About the wider question.. there is a great deal I would wish to say.. much has actually been said in posts so far.. some is quiet simply jibberish.. there will be a massive amount written about this election result and why Labour blew it.. much, not all.. but much of the explanation lies on the other side of the Atlantic with the causes of the economic crisis.. Labour has been overwhelmed and blamed by the electorate for it..not its handling of it particularly..but for the crisis itself.. whether that is fair or unfair is open to conjecture, but whichever party was in power.. such is the extent and seriousness of the crisis, they would have been swept from power.. in fact had the Tories been in power it is likely the extent of the defeat would be much much greater than that of the Labour Party.. not because they would be any more or less to blame, but because most parties which are not Tory, are left of centre parties and the major two have a solid base of something like 45% of the electorate whatever an election turns up. And in a bad year for the Tories? This would rise to well over 60%.. That's why the Tories hate the idea of electoral reform.. it would be rare for them to gain power with another electoral system.. ''

Totally correct.

''Of interest may be the little realised fact that in the last century something like 20% of elections have resulted in a comparable result to 2010... so what we are going through now is not that unusual...''

Yep, nothing unusual at all and that is the beauty and the ugliness of the British electoral and governing systems.

''I know this post does not answer the question but it is pertinent.. I will later today or tomorrow try and provide Fran's own analysis of what what happened happened.. and why as Tenni asked.. I am so disenchanted in particular with the Labour Party..''

I'm still trying to find a way of putting into words, politely, what has disenchanted me with the Labour Party...but disenchanted, I am.

[tenni]

Yes, of course, in a Parliamentary system the governing party may change leaders at a Leadership Convention. One day, an MP may be a regular backbencher or Cabinet minister and after the leadership convention become the leader of the governing party. They then become the Prime Minister. It happens all the time that a party changes leaders but it is more likely when they are in Opposition. It happened here in Canada between Chretien and Martin as PM's recently. It happened in Britain between Blair and Brown.

Does anyone recall when a governing party changed leaders and the new leader was not an elected MP? That would truly be strange as that would mean that the PM is not in Parliament until a by election could be held? There would be a deputy PM probably in Parliament. I don't think that it has happened in Canada. Has it ever happened in Britain?

[darkeyes]

Yes, of course, in a Parliamentary system the governing party may change leaders at a Leadership Convention. One day, an MP may be a regular backbencher or Cabinet minister and after the leadership convention become the leader of the governing party. They then become the Prime Minister. It happens all the time that a party changes leaders but it is more likely when they are in Opposition. It happened here in Canada between Chretien and Martin as PM's recently. It happened in Britain between Blair and Brown.

Does anyone recall when a governing party changed leaders and the new leader was not an elected MP? That would truly be strange as that would mean that the PM is not in Parliament until a by election could be held? There would be a deputy PM probably in Parliament. I don't think that it has happened in Canada. Has it ever happened in Britain?

Yes.. Lord Douglas Home was a member of the House of Lords and resigned his hereditary peerage to become leader of his party and Prime Minister as Sir Alec Douglas-Home (pronounced Hume) in 1963. The Tories found him a nice safe seat in the House of Commons to enable him to do his job. He was defeated by Wilson in 1965. My father refers to him as "The Skull" because of his boney bonce. When Heath took over from him as Tory leader Douglas-Home was eventually rewarded with a Life Peerage and served as Foreign Secretary in the Heath Government from 1970-74. Upon his death his son assumed the hereditary title which was only in abeyance as long the father lived.

[bigbadmax]

Canticle is a northern gobshite/monkey hanger.

only scots hate being called brits.

us southerners voted brown out as he is typical scottish...promise the earth,nick yer money and then complain you were not carrying enough to feed their cocaine habbit...sorry fran!


oops there go the feathers with the pussy in the middle lol

[darkeyes]

Canticle is a northern gobshite/monkey hanger.

only scots hate being called brits.

us southerners voted brown out as he is typical scottish...promise the earth,nick yer money and then complain you were not carrying enough to feed their cocaine habbit...sorry fran!


oops there go the feathers with the pussy in the middle lol

Thats a little unpleasant and a lot unnecessary Max and exceedingly offensive.. my mum is also from the North of England and I know just how much of your genitals would remain if you spoke to her as you have to Canticle.. I also know where they would finally reside... she isnt a nice pacifist like me... she believes in hurting people who insult her..

... and not all Scots hate being called Brits.. many do.. but many dont.. because that is exactly what they are...

... and your understanding of what Brown was about is typically southern... I see you are an avid Sun reader... just as your understanding of what Scots are about shows your total ignorance..

[Canticle]

Canticle is a northern gobshite/monkey hanger.

only scots hate being called brits.

us southerners voted brown out as he is typical scottish...promise the earth,nick yer money and then complain you were not carrying enough to feed their cocaine habbit...sorry fran!


oops there go the feathers with the pussy in the middle lol

What a twat! Are you incapable of posting with upper case letters, where they are required, or using any punctuation.

Be it known, little man. My blood is Yorkshire and Lancashire and I was born and raised in London. Thankfully, I escaped.

Plus, I always carry with me, a bag containing enough rusty razor wire, to hang any smartass male by his balls, from the highest tree.

Smiles sweetly. :)

[Canticle]

Thats a little unpleasant and a lot unnecessary Max and exceedingly offensive.. my mum is also from the North of England and I know just how much of your genitals would remain if you spoke to her as you have to Canticle.. I also know where they would finally reside... she isnt a nice pacifist like me... she believes in hurting people who insult her..

... and not all Scots hate being called Brits.. many do.. but many dont.. because that is exactly what they are...

... and your understanding of what Brown was about is typically southern... I see you are an avid Sun reader... just as your understanding of what Scots are about shows your total ignorance..

And thank you Fran.

[bigbadmax]

Canticle....one should never use caps on a computer...it is bad ettiquette and pertains to SHOUTING!

I would ask you to refrain from using course language or are you so ill educated that you have to have a mouth like a sewer!

Darkeyes...you of all people know that this is a free speech area...even when in jest. For your information i can read and therefore dont look at the tabloid press.

[darkeyes]

Darkeyes...you of all people know that this is a free speech area...even when in jest. For your information i can read and therefore dont look at the tabloid press.

I am not trying to stop u saying whatever you like.. making yourself out to be a dick in print becomes ya...;)

[bigbadmax]

darkeyes...you are well respected on this site...and well known for your opinions..good or bad, however maybe you are correct in thinking of moving on as your opinions of me are unfounded...you judge me on one posting...you are a hippocrite...i have never judged anyone on this site and when you speak your mind we dont shoot you down in flames...so why am i your new anti male target?

[Canticle]

Canticle....one should never use caps on a computer...it is bad ettiquette and pertains to SHOUTING!

I would ask you to refrain from using course language or are you so ill educated that you have to have a mouth like a sewer!

Darkeyes...you of all people know that this is a free speech area...even when in jest. For your information i can read and therefore dont look at the tabloid press.

Perhaps you should re-read your post. I don't think that I need to point out the incorrect spelling, sentences beginning with a lower case letter and the bad grammar. Or maybe I should. Also, the foul and coarse words, in the below quoted post!

I would also ask, that you address the similar mistakes, in the above post, too! Oh, dear......did I misspell ''twit''?

Now, let us get back to the subjrct, raised by the OP......Please.

''Canticle is a northern gobshite/monkey hanger.

only scots hate being called brits.

us southerners voted brown out as he is typical scottish...promise the earth,nick yer money and then complain you were not carrying enough to feed their cocaine habbit...sorry fran!


oops there go the feathers with the pussy in the middle lol ''

[MaybeSayMaybe]

Well, as of Sunday night, that election in England is small potatoes compared to the trillion dollar exercise in mindless money printing that was just announced by the EU. Throw enough gasoline on a fire, and it has to go out. Doesn't it? Huh?

What do people in England think about their government being dragged into this mess? Do y'all get the the funny feeling that the ship is going down? Or are people unconcerned?

[Pasadenacpl2]

I'm very concerned. This was my fear when they first went to the Euro.

Pasa

[Canticle]

Well, as of Sunday night, that election in England is small potatoes compared to the trillion dollar exercise in mindless money printing that was just announced by the EU. Throw enough gasoline on a fire, and it has to go out. Doesn't it? Huh?

What do people in England think about their government being dragged into this mess? Do y'all get the the funny feeling that the ship is going down? Or are people unconcerned?

I can assure you that a General Election in the UK and the electing of a new government, be it a totally new one or the same party, returned for another 5 years is not and never will be ''small potatoes,'' to the citizens of the UK. At the moment we do not know if Gordon Brown, as Prime Minister and the political party, which he leads, will try to continue in government, as a minority government, or if we will see a coalition government of the Conservative and Liberal Democrats.

The UK is part of the EU, unfortunately....so whatever shit hits the fan...will no doubt have a knock on effect in the UK. Whether or not the population of the UK will actually notice a difference, in their everyday lives and finances, remains to be seen.

Just don't dumb down the election of a new government, in the UK. It's important to those of us who care.

[Canticle]

I'm very concerned. This was my fear when they first went to the Euro.

Pasa

My son lives in Italy. He's married to an Italian. Apparently, when the referendum was held, to see if the Italian people wanted the Euro, or not, the citizens said 'No,' but the government still joined. Now, how accurate he was about that, I do not know, but that is what he reported.

So go figure. Thank the Cosmos the UK still has British Sterling.

[Hephaestion]

The USA of A has a common currency and so it has been that the intended US of E should have a common currency.

The problem has been that member countries have falsified their accounts. The advantage would be an association with more successful economies such as that of Germany. From a recent programme on the Radio, the State of California is in as dire a position as the Greeks are. The difference is that the Federal sytem in the USA has stepped in to ease their problem quietly from a world perspective.

As far as Sterling is concerned - the UK is bankrupt and living on credit. It will take many years to clear up the mess from the banking fiasco. The problem? The long term lying about the UK economy and falsifying the accounts: the wrong people paying themselves too much for failing at their jobs; sod all investment and inept management; selling ALL of the family silver. How are the banks trying to make good? They are not making money from abroad. They are simply fleecing the UK public with 0.1% return on savings but charging 10% plus on any loan.

Currently, there is controversy about changing the voting system. Perhaps if proportional representation is introduced then some kind of political stability and therefore economic stablity will follow rather than the idiotic changes of dirrection that have prevailed.


.

[darkeyes]

darkeyes...you are well respected on this site...and well known for your opinions..good or bad, however maybe you are correct in thinking of moving on as your opinions of me are unfounded...you judge me on one posting...you are a hippocrite...i have never judged anyone on this site and when you speak your mind we dont shoot you down in flames...so why am i your new anti male target?

You're not my new target of any kind.. I just dont like your less than nice way of speak addressing one member and your obvious distaste of Northerners and Scots.. in another context it borders on racism.. in fact potentially, if I adressed you in a similar manner to the way you spoke of Canticle, or of Scots, I could be prosecuted for just that north of the border.... I merely remarked on the offensiveness of one, and then the stupidity of another of your postings... I did judge those and found them wanting.. if you believe that to be hypocrisy then so be it.. if and when I make a judgement of you as a person then I will let you know.. :)

[CuddlyKate]

Frances promised to reply to this thread properly by Monday. Unfortunately, she suffered a serious attack of Asthma on Monday evening and was hospitalised while they tried to stabilise her breathing. This proved much more difficult than expected and she has been kept in hospital for a few days while they run tests to ensure that it was nothing more than an asthma attack. She is much better I am relieved to say, and hopes to be discharged this afternoon. Frances will be staying at her parents for a couple of days as an extra precaution.

She has asked me to say that normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. I leave that up to you to decide whether that is a good or bad thing.:)

[mariersa]

Oh my, did she forget her inhaler again or did it not do the job properly? Hoping it's nothing more serious!!

[tenni]

CuddlyKate
How good of you to post and sweet for Fran to even think about this thread under the circumstances. What with Brown quitting and a new PM, I wait to hear from her when she is feeling better. Give her my best wishes.

[darkeyes]

Ta Tenni and Mars.. am much better now tf.. also refused 2 go an stay at me mums.. just wanna b home and am not budging. So me mum is staying here till the weekend..

Will answer as an when if u still want me 2.. kinda old hat now.. when Kate told me last night that Cameron and Cleggie's comic cuts were running the country it almost finished me off (an thats only half an exaggeration).. wont b tonite.. an 2 knackered an still not feelin 2 clever.. but a lil less unclever than I did.. :)

Kissies 2 all..

[Canticle]

Ta Tenni and Mars.. am much better now tf.. also refused 2 go an stay at me mums.. just wanna b home and am not budging. So me mum is staying here till the weekend..

Will answer as an when if u still want me 2.. kinda old hat now.. when Kate told me last night that Cameron and Cleggie's comic cuts were running the country it almost finished me off (an thats only half an exaggeration).. wont b tonite.. an 2 knackered an still not feelin 2 clever.. but a lil less unclever than I did.. :)

Kissies 2 all..

Young lady. Get well very soon and do look after yourself. I cried when I heard that Brown had resigned as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister. He's a decent sort. A good man.

[Pasadenacpl2]

I felt the same way about Reagan.

Pasa