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Gordon Brown this afternoon condemned the teachers’ strike as “regrettable and unjustifiable” on a surprise visit to Wolverhampton.
As teachers took to the streets Mr Brown arrived in the city before travelling on to Bilston Nursery School Early Excellence Centre.
His visit came as he attempted to restore credibility following a humiliating climbdown in the 10p tax row.
He was also facing the first teachers’ strike in 21 years, with school staff protesting at the 2.45 per cent offer with further rises of 2.3 per cent over the next two years.
Speaking about the strike, Mr Brown told the Express & Star: “It is really regrettable and unjustifiable.
“The pay of teachers is decided by the independent pay review body. It then makes recommendations.”
Gordon Brown, accompanied by his wife Sarah, smiled broadly but said nothing as he was whisked through Wolverhampton Station by police and taken to a waiting car.
Police led the convoy to the Early Excellence Centre in Wolverhampton Street, where he was given a tour by manager Emma Smith.
Mr Brown spoke to children at the SureStart nursery, which opened last year, helping them make dinosaurs from modelling clay. The visit, arranged ahead of next Thursday’s council elections, took on added importance as it was his first public appearance since yesterday’s embarrassing U-turn over plans to axe the 10p tax rate.
Faced with the prospect of near-certain defeat in the Commons, Mr Brown offered key concessions to compensate low earners in the controversial move.
Asked whether this had been his worst week in politics, Mr Brown said: “This is what the job is all about. What we’re doing today is getting out around the country.” He said he would “of course” lead Labour into the next general election.
By Becky Sharpe
14 Comments
Another soundbite from a clueless “leader”. Blah!
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Pity the independant review body is not as independant as it would be portrayed
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Alot of people are abviously thinking that Mr. Brown is a bad leader and they would prefer to see David Cameron leading the country. Doesn’t any one remember when the Tories were in power? Poll Tax? And many more of there policies introduced by Thatcher. Does this ring a bell? Gordon Brown rubbish, however all Labour needs is just a new leader and they will be okay again. Bring back Tony Blair!!
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whats he come to wolverhampton for.i know hes after freds inheritance tax
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Wouldn’t you just like to slap this evil man’s face?
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A climbdown on the 10p tax, BEWARE he’s gonna find anoher way to clobber us in the pocket. I just wish he had called that snap election.
A good idea for him is to team up with Mick MCarthy then everyone is doomed.
Get in the real world GB, oh that’s right you don’t know what the real world is.
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It won’t be long before Brown’s miracle economy, based on credit and debt is revealed for the empty disgrace that it is.
As the economy grinds to a halt over the next 18 months his poll ratings can only go lower.
During the height of the boom he couldn’t balance the books, what hope does he have now? Civil servants are striking over pay and pensions and our government have spent all the money!
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Well… I think he may have just lost a whole load of teachers votes then! Why cant we have a leader with some back bone for a change? A leader that wants to look after the country and the people that voted for him! They are pretty much all the same, promise you one thing to get in - and do just what they want when they get there! I’d like to see a ‘John Howard’ (Australia) type in charge myself!… And I bet there are quiet a few more that are thinking the same!
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Give me back my pension you thief.
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3. Of course in your tiny mind this is the same tory party of the 1980’s. Take a look at what the labour government did in the 1970’s and then look at how much the current labour government are grabbing off you. Ring any bells? Big government, big taxes, and the middle classes have to pay for it all.
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what’s wrong with poll tax, one person:one tax. No more packing the house with relatives & fiddling forms.
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That man makes me grind coffee with my teeth and boil the water with my own rage. He just inspires absolute haterd.
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Harry - by your own logic, the Tories may well be completely different under a ‘new leader’. Hell, you can barely tell the difference between the two parties anymore - we’ll end up taxed through the roof no matter who gets in.
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Harry short memory, Labour have done well but they are not the be all and end all.
As far as I am concerned the Poll tax was fairer than the council tax. Whats the price of my house got to do with funding local government?? How many people living in that house maybe.
Just go back to the seventies and the chaos strikes and inflation caused.
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