Has the PM got a prayer?

SHOULD he stay or should he go? A new poll for Sunday Times has revealed that more than half of voters think Gordon Brown staying on as Prime Minister would harm Britain. Reporter USMA RAJA went to Chadderton shopping precinct to ask people what they thought....

WITH the MP expenses row, the credit crunch and soaring job losses, now is not the best time to be Prime Minister.

Gordon Brown is under fire from all quarters and people in the borough are not letting him off the hook either.

Sarah Holt (27), of Oldham, said: “I think he should go. I have been out of work for two years and live on benefits. I have worked most of my life and now I’m a single parent without a job. He’s not doing enough for us.”

Barbara Jardine, (59), of Chadderton, agreed that Mr Brown is harming Britain, adding: “It’s because everybody has lost confidence and it stopped me from voting in the European election. He’s weak and has no leadership qualities.”

Her husband Leslie had a different opinion. He said: “It’s not Gordon Bown’s fault. It’s Tony Blair who has left him in a big mess.”

However, the beleaguered Prime Minister found a sympathiser in Roy Marshall (71), of Royton.

He said: “He is making all the right decisions as far as the economy is concerned. If Mr Brown goes who will step in? I don’t think electing a new leader will solve the problem because everybody makes mistakes and no one is perfect.”

Doreen (66) and Keith Hammond (70), of Chadderton, said they couldn’t wait for the premier to leave. They said: “He’s not doing anything good for us or the Government, but no one else is doing any better. We can’t say anything good about him.”

Meanwhile, Uthit Evans (25), of Chadderton, was clear that she didn’t like Mr Brown, adding: “I don’t like the cuts in benefits he has made and he should go because he’s not doing anything else for the British public.”

Vera Palmer (63), of Hathershaw, said: “I don’t think any leader that comes in is perfect but we’ve got to have leadership otherwise we’ll be in complete chaos.”

Thomas Webster (71), of Chadderton, said he had lost confidence in the British Government. He added: “I didn’t vote this time. Why should I vote for people who are on the fiddle?

Ethel Llewellyn (68), of Chadderton, spoke in favour of the Prime Minister and didn’t think he was harming Britain. She said: “This country’s not the only one in a mess. I rather have Gordon Brown’s Labour than Conservatives.