For months the press have let Gordon spout nonsense: "We are the best prepared", "the do nothing Tories", "I never said an end to boom and bust, what I said was....."

At last, it took a German politician, but someone has pointed out "Emperor Brown has no clothes". We now know the truth.

Jonathan Cook, Winchfield, Hampshire

So that's one major world economy that doesn't agree with Brown's approach. Having claimed to be leading the world rescue maybe some others will pop up to disagree. Probably best not to blow one's own trumpet, even if for domestic politics.

Mike, Midlands,

A voice of sanity!

Patrick, Newcastle upon Tyne,

One has only to recall the number of fiscal stimulus that Japan made over ten years in an effort pull them out of recession to realise that what Brown is doing is doomed to failure. The market will only turn when it looks cheap and represents good value and not before, there is some way to go yet

D Case, Newquay,

Well.well the voice of reason at last.There is no such thing as a free lunch.A maxim I was brought up with,Because of Brown's hubris,I and millions of others of an older generation are seeing our hard earned savings decimated.

R.Hart, sutton coldfield, uk

While criticising Britain's VAT tax reduction the German government is offering anyone purchasing a NEW car not to have to pay road tax. His example of cost saving on a low cost item is correct but for a new car it'd be the same as not having to pay the road tax in Germany. A mote in his own eye!

Martinb, Munich,

Hate to say this but the Germans are right. The problems in the US are not being solved, and the debt mountain we all built up cannot be swept under the carpet. Whilst prices of commodities, houses etc rose at such a sharp rate the problems could be hidden, but no longer. God save the country.

C Darken, Nantwich, UK

I'd trust any German over Brown and Darling. Aren't they the ones with the budget surplus?

Andy D, Manchester,

This is a bit rich coming from a country which is addicted to state subsidies for everything from agriculture, to coal, steel, energy, and the film industry. Watch the state support which they're about to provide for the German car industry!

Andy, London,

peace in our time, the germans most people in this country takes what they have to say with a pinch of salt

John Allison, dover, kent

I wish he was our Chancellor

Richard, Nottingham,

Labour's ongoing attempt to claim a leading role in a unified approach to the current economic conditions is disintegrating. What we have is more economic mismanagement that will be highlighted by the considered and conservative approach that some of Europe will persue.

Peter, St.Albans, Herts

Herr Steinbruck is perfectly right. Gordon Brown should have rememberes the first rule of crisis management: when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

Ross, Bristol,

It was about time an outsider from a succesful economy social democrat too told Brown the truth about his stupid policies.

NICHOLAS , LARNACA, CYPRUS

someone saying how it is. shame its so rare in politics.

andy, winchester,

At last, some European sense!!!

Ian, Sheffield,

At last! Someone finally recognises the Emperor has no clothes!! Thank you Mr Steinbruck for stating what to most of us hoi-polloi is the bleedin' obvious!!

chris, london,

I live in France.
My pension is converted to euros before I get it.
It has fallen steadily since last Xmas..No big crashes, tumbles.
Nothing this government has done has affected it AT ALL in the 12 months.
Odd ? ?

Ron Allen, Sacy, France

Gordon Brown is simply throwing money around in the desperate hope that we'll not notice the mess he got us into until after the election.

It comes to something when we get more honesty about the recession from the Germans as opposed to our government.

Ian, London, UK

Foreigners aren't fooled by Flash Gordon saving the world and abolishing boom and bust, are they?

Dave, Slough,

The UK already knows all about inter-generational borrowing, we recently re-paid the last of our debts accrued from fighting WWII. Germany should know better than to make these comments as it knows how valuable fiscal stimuli can be; it did, after all benefit from the Marshall plan.

Kieran McCAldin, London, UK

Someone talking sense - at last! My partner and I have decided that we will not stick around to be saddled with the mess that this government is creating. We are both professionals and would rather pay our taxes elsewhere where government policy is sensible and well thought through. Brain drain UK!!

Beckie, Twickenham,

Steinbruck could be right. If we spent government money keeping the infrastructure, banks and businesses alive, albeit at a reduced level, whilst encouraging product research, it would all be there when people have reduced their debt and are ready to enjoy themselves again.

Pete, Epping , UK

Well, saying "It is the yearning for the Great Rescue Plan. It doesn't exist. It doesn't exist! Dealing with an unprecedented crisis is a puzzle, a trial-and-error. Honestly, I don't know. " seems quite genuine to me. Waiting and seeing where things might go, looks like something a wise man would do

Xabier Burgos, Bilbao, Spain

Most of Germany's economic growth in recent years was driven by exports, while consumer spending stayed in the doldrums - giving any sort of fiscal stimulus will not greatly benefit its economy. Thanks to other countries' rescue plans, Germany's exports will soon be on the rise again - danke schön!

Richard Weed, London,

His comments about the massive increase in public spending causing significant future problems are exactly right - we (taxpayers AND businesses) will be paying for this for years.

However focusing on bailing-out the banks isn't perfect - to a fair degree they got us INTO this mess.

Martin Willis, Coventry,

Finally, a sane voice. I wish I was German today.

Stewart, London, UK

Thank you Germany. New Teuchter are destroying UK plc.

Simon, Harrogate, UK

Obviously the Germans haven't heard that Gordy has saved the world and that the UK is better placed than everybody else in this financial crisis. Mind you, neither have the IMF, the rest of the world or the money markets. Somebody must be wrong, so over to super gordy!

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Steinbrueck is not 'Germany'.
He is as much considered a 'loose gun' as a trustworthy finance minister in Germany. I hope this is understood in Britain.
His comments might formaly not be as sophisticated as expected but you have to give it to him: He is raising some interesting questions

Sven, Germany, EU

How utterly unprofessional of Steinbruck. What's he trying to accomplish, anyway? Regardless of his opinions, he should express them behind closed doors.

John F, London,

The Germans have a hang up on reducing VAT.When Chirac wanted to reduce VAT to 2.5% in French Cafes and Hotels the Germans blocked it.Whats VAT in Germany 21%!!.The Germans dont want to boost buying in Germany they only want the rest of the World to do it so they purchase German Luxury goods.

Bill Rees, Falmouth, UK

The EU are just annoyed as Britain won't be buying so many luxury foreign goods for a while. They were resentful of our suposed 'wealth' when we had it, and now they insult us when the inevitable downturn arrives!

It's about time we remobilise, retool, and start getthing things in order here.

Hamilton Grayton, Newmarket, UK

Finally, someone talking sense. You cant beat a recession and Brown needs to be evicted before UK plc goes bust.

john, London, UK

Emperor Brown has just been told that he appears to have no fiscal clothes on. With Mr Steinbruck's comments, at last I hear some common sense spoken through the panic and chaos.

Brown and Darling have got us into a hole and should now stop digging.

Rob, Bristol,

in two years time this guy will be seen as a genius.

thankfully someone in authority has seen the signs of the financially destructive path Brown is leading us down.

as for Brown, the last person we should listen to is the man who uniquely lead us into, and failed to see, the current crisis.

Philip Sheridan, london,

Finally at least somebody abroad has the guts to tell the British Public that the Labour Party has become the Luny Party of the country. An unelected PM is allowed to ruin the country. The British are not learning their lessons from the past.

G Pietzsch, Cambridge, UK

Mr Steinbrueck has never been a diplomatic conversational partner to anyone and will probably never be. His views are certainly not infallible. But what distinguishes him from most politicians over here is the fact that he gives a clearcut personal answer when being asked a question

Markus, Berlin, Germany

How encouraging to hear at least one finance minister saying something which seems believable. Lucky Germany. Perhaps it's no coincidence the country has a relatively strong financial position compared to the UK. If only Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown were as credible.

Dirk, London, UK

Steinbruck is completely right, and he has put his finger on the biggest lie of this whole mess. There is going to be a serious global recession, nothing he, Brown or Obama can do about it. Throwing political money at an economic tsunami is not going to hold it back.

jeannie, perugia, Italy

Exhibit A: Crash in sterling - 15% damages so far, expect further

Exhibit B: Sale of gold reserves circa $250/oz 8 years ago - GB's only true inflation hedge

Exhibit C: Creation of myriad of "off balance sheet" UK debt to GB's eco figures are better than reality.

Philip Sheridan, london,

Unbelievable

i lived in Germany for 10 years and never believed a word coming from the govenment there concerning economic policy.

Now their Finance Minister is lecturing us on how badly Brown and Labour are handling the situation.

what's worse is he is absolutely 100% right. We are doomed.

rowland, London, UK

I admire the Germans and Germany. At long last the Tories have some real ammunition to throw at our arrogant PM Gordon, who claims to have saved the world. Please do not vote for Labour again at the next election.

david Norman, Leeds, United Kingdom

Let me ask those who think UK inflation is headed to zero what happens if £ crashes a further 50%?

We import significantly more than we produce - food, energy

Inflation, with £ crashing, goes thru the roof

Will FORCE interest rates up - remember Lawson didnt WANT to raise rates to 15% on ERM exit

Philip Sheridan, london,

It seems Gordon Brown's plan to "save the world" will not work. The Germans are going it alone. This may be the start of end of the EU project. Protectionism is back. Each man for himself. This recession may yet turn out to doom us all. Its pretty bleak. Top economic experts said they are scared.

Darrel, Middleton, UK

I think Herr Steinbruck is right.

Labour's legacy! - it's toxic debt. Shame we will all have to pay for Brown's mess.

andyH, Twickenham,

I trust Herr Steinbruck 100% with my money.
I trust M. Trichet 50% with my money.
I trust Mr. Darling 0% with my money, and Gordon Brown even less.

william rodgers, paris,

Okay then, Germany has a different economic aproach the the UK.

So what? Get over it!

Fabio C, London, UK

From my understanding of the Keynesian model we have broadly followed many of his principals for some time now and look where it has got us. No savings, massive borrowings, excessive demand, huge government investment and ridiculous wages.

Nick, Moreton-in-Marsh, UK

P.S.Though Roosevelt employed some of his policies in the late 30's there was a bit of a spat in Europe which kind of changed the whole world! War the ultimate stimulus.

Nick, Moreton-in-Marsh, UK