PRIME Minister Gordon Brown’s personal ambitions appear to be paramount; he totally ignores the world around him and is seemingly unaware of the embarrassing desperation he shows in picking his “loyal”

Cabinet bedfellows.

No wonder the ambitious Europe Minister, Caroline Flint, behaved like a discarded mistress – after her cringing performance of loyalty to Mr Brown she then vented her fury at obviously not getting the reward she expected. Along with the ever-loyal Margaret Beckett, who quit as Housing Minister, Mr Brown not only scored own goals, he seemed surprised about it.

Then we have those he is now rewarding – the titled ones, unelected, most with poor track records who are being given positions that can only be judged as bribes as he plots to build a wall of allies around him.

And the plum job – effectively deputy prime minister – now going to Lord Mandelson, a man twice removed for previous misdemeanours, now in place only through patronage, never elected and quite obviously with more power than his master.

Is this how Mr Brown is keeping his promise to clean up Parliament? And should we even bother voting for MPs when a Prime Minister brings in his “own” supporters. Democracy seems to have taken a wrong turn somewhere.

Mrs S Harnby, Stockton.

GORDON Brown is the only person in the Government with any ideas on how to get Britain out of the present economic difficulties.

Criticisms of him by his former junior Cabinet ministers have been frivolous and without any substance. Motivated by bitterness over their own frustrated career ambitions, they have said things about Mr Brown’s presentation skills, but have we heard one positive idea from the plotters about what they would do in his place to improve life in Britain?

Being Chancellor for ten years is an enormous strain on anyone.

It was not ideal preparation for taking on the job of Prime Minister. Mr Brown is exhausted by his time in office and by becoming a father for the first time at the age of 50. But this problem could be remedied by a good rest and a long holiday at the seaside with his family.

Things will seem clearer then.

The European election results were bad for Labour. Everyone in politics knew this over a year ago, as did the press and television – so why is everyone pretending it is news?

Mr Brown is head and shoulders above his Cabinet colleagues. In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Nigel Boddy, Darlington.