THOSE of us with children or grandchildren growing up in the Eighties will be familiar with a novelty book concerned with the location of a nerdy character called Wally.

For the present, I propose a similar novelty: “Where’s the wally?” He certainly wasn’t present in the House of Commons last Wednesday when the coalition Government tried to right his wrongs through Chancellor George Osborne’s spending review.

I refer, of course, to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown who, with all the petulance he could muster, avoided attendance in the House. Was it cowardice that prevented his showing his well-paid face?

He, in his ill preparedness for bad times, sent this country’s finances plummeting. His inability to regulate the banking system and his raids on the gold reserves and pension funds allowed the booms which preceded the very lean times.

His policies pushed this country to the edge of financial disaster. How typical of the man that he could not face the music and at least attend the chamber to hear the spending review.

He shows what we already knew – that he does not have the courage to face the music.

Labour supporters must hang their heads in shame.

They have ruined the country and refusal to acknowledge responsibility is scandalous.

Colin T Mortimer, Pity Me, Durham