I have just received my private pension which is much lower than I had anticipated when taking it out in the 1970s. Gordon Brown has robbed me and thousands of other small businesses as many of us had no time to recover the lost funds caused by his destabilsing actions.

What is irksome is that he and his cabinet colleagues are feather-bedding their own indexed linked pensions and we have to live of fixed sum pensions, after supporting MPs and Public Servants throughout our working lives.

David West, Basingstoke, UK

And we tought the Tories were not to be trusted! at least they could never get £100 million into brown paper bags!

It just goes to show the old adage, "It's no use being in a position of power if you can't abuse it" is alive and kicking in the Labour party!
Gordon Brown is a master of disguise and would make our local highway man Black Robbin turn in his grave !

John O'Shea, Canterbury, UK

This affair has damaged Ed Balls too. What was he thinking of throwing around wild insults when there is such a serious case to answer? Does he think it's all a knockabout debating game?

He's called Cameron a spineless hypocrit (what grounds for this blistering insult?), then he has said that they were obeying what the civil servants told them (i vos only obeying etc). People used to think Balls was some kind of serious egghead economist beavering away in the Treasury. Not any more!

If even the Inland Rev are telling you it's a tax too far, I think we can safely assume it's not a good idea.

Martin, Birmingham,

What suprises me is how long it has taken for the public to wake up to this raid on their pensions, If you have a little look at how our leaders have feathered their own pension nests at the TAX payers expense you may well become more incensed, but this is just Labour acting true to form the polotics of greed, and hypocrisy,

Michael Rudd, Barking, Essex

How many people would like to see brown and blair stripped of their pensions and thrown into jail?

e,bradbury , bournemouth, dorset

I am outraged by the fact that Life Time Allowance (L T A), which taxes pension pots in excess of £1.5 million at a higher rate, does not apply to retiring ministers. They certainly know how to look after themselves, don't they?

R A Brewester, Storrington, U K

So ... what are they going to do about it? It's hardly a fait acomplit. Although the government seem to think that any decision they make can't be changed.

I was umming and ah-ing about where to save for my pension, here or in Holland. Now I know. Glad I didn't give up my Dutch citizenship.

Starling, Lancaster,

At Least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask ! Gordon Brown has fleeced the everyday working man and woman, and this will show in the results at the next election, the final straw for me was when he doubled the airport tax, living here in Ireland means we have to fly to get anywhere, but he's treating us as if it's a luxury that we only do to when we've nothing else to do! I live in Belfast where Diesel is 95p per litre, but 40 miles away just in the ROI. I can buy it for 64p per litre, The people have nothing left to give, I shall now remove the shirt of my back and send it to No.11 Downing Street. Shame on you, Gordon, you've broken every promise we voted you into government for. What are you going to do to redeem yourself ?

Vincent McCrory, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Puts him level with that newspaper guy who raided the company pension fund - Maxwell was it?- who then fell off his boat and drowned

Ronald Naylor, Edgeworth, NSW Australia

Please let us get rid of this horrendous government, I am pleased to say never in my life have I voted labour, I read animal farm at an early age. Labourites only want power for themselves and this lot have decimated this country in many areas but ,as in animal farm ,give themselves the prime bit.

Lizzy, Lincoln,

It's pretty much following history- Conservatives create an amazing country- they don't create an economy NO government creates an economy even thought they seems to be the rallying call of every Labour MP- then Labour get voted in after a few years, screw everything up, promise money to those who don't want to work and therefore get their votes until the polite British public have finally had enough- say something about it and then Conservatives get voted back in to fix everything; then just as they have fixed it Labour are voted back in! It's a vicious cycle. No wonder other countries laugh at us- we don't even do anything to Iran when they kidnap British service men and women.

Richard, Edinburgh, Midlothian

Prime Minister? You must be joking !! Brown should resign over this, particularly the scruffy attempt to evade responsibility. In defending him Balls should be remembered as an untrustworthy financial pundit.
For the majority of people , young and old, in the UK this is nothing short of a disaster. Perhaps the worst feature is that he has arranged this catastrophe to hit the most vulnerable members of British society. What do people do in this situation? Well, you must never trust Labour with your money-or your vote.

Terry Scholes, Siorac, France

At the time of this very mean money-grab Gordon was 'assembling a war chest' (remember?). Thus pensioners who fought in or lost family members in WW2 and who worked hard to rebuild Britain afterwards have substantially paid to fund yet another war - in Iraq. He's hit pensioners and those on low incomes again by abolishing the 10% tax band and the 25p per month (!) at age 80! How hard we all worked - and saved if we could because that was the ethic of the times and now we suffer punitive taxation and rates on the homes cor which we worked and saved. More money was given in the last budget for the wealthiest to squander in foreign economies with homes and yachts abroad. Shame on you, cruel Gordon!

Sue Davies, Nantwich, UK

How much more evidence will surface to confirm that this government is the most scurrilous and devastatingly incompetent of all time?

Duncan McLaren, Chania, Greece

Apart from pensions, where Brown has robbed us all, I just despair of this Labour Government. IRAQ - weapons of mass destruction - Council Tax Increases - Immigration and The Home Office - Crime - Political Correctness - NHS - Assumed Payments for Peerages - Stealth Taxes.

This country is already on the way to free-fall and if you vote these idiots in again we will be in self destruction mode in 10 years time. Brown's borrowings will ensure this.

It's only my grand-children that keep me here but I so worry about their future.

Derek, Bath,

This comes as no surprise to me at all. I have never doubted that Brown has a cynical mean streak a mile wide. Why on earth he has ever been considered as a potential PM is an enigma to me. Personally, I believe that it is an outcome of the total arrogance of this Labour administration. They pander to their constituency, the voters who drag us further down at every election. Most of them have not cared what he has done, many may not now. But maybe a few will.

This could not possibly have happened if we had an electoral system that held our politicians more accountable. First past the post created this, and arrogance componded it. Let's have an election now, followed by a grass roots review of our voting system. For a country that pontificates to the rest of the world, we sure do look a bit silly in the democracy stakes on many counts.

Tom, Bedfordshire, UK

I have always been astonished that Gordon Brown has received so little flak for the pensions fiasco he caused through his devastating meddling. I always felt that Equitable Life was tipped over the edge after financial assumptions were destroyed by Gordon's tax raid, leaving the weaker, less well-run pension funds in trouble. The change in accounting rules a couple of years later spelt doom for a good number final salary pension schemes, especially in smaller companies. I was told at Christmas by a Labour party insider that Brown was advised not to make the changes but went ahead anyway. So the surprise for me is that this hasn't come out sooner. I expect Brown's apologists have been preparing a suitably mealy-mouthed defense for months. But I am looking forward to seeing him take some long overdue political damage for all of this. This after all is a man who wants more power to satisfy his own ego, clearly not to serve the interests of ordinary people.

Mike Robinson, Haywards Heath, UK

I knew what would happen right from the moment he said it in his first budget in 1997,what annoyed me more was all the labour members in the house waving thier papers and cheering.
The total amount might be approx 75 to 100 million but cumalativley it amounts up to about £200 million if the amount taken had been invested
but as most people notice the MP,s pensions are all protected

Vivian, Pontyclun, UK

This just proves how mean, twisted, & uncaring our govenment in this country really is! Tax the poorer classes until they squirm, while they fiddle their expense sheets to the tune of thousands of pounds. Of course they also manage to protect their own pensions, with obsene final salery handouts. If they lose their jobs, because their employers, (thats US ! ) find ,or think that they are not up to the job , they should be treated the same as any other employee not coming up to standard, the months salery due, and goodby, nothing more or less.
This would ensure that honesty, & open dealings would come to the fore very quickly! I also think that would be a fairer way to deal with the type of person who is standing for government!

Jim Stewart, Anstruther, SCOTLAND

The destruction of Private Pension Funds was no accident;
the reason? They are "Private" and not dependent on the state. Brown has been buying votes with his benefits and tax credits to ensure dependence on Labour, "New" or old.

Mansel, Middlesbrough, U.K.

thye toiries want a independant inquiy about the raid on pensions, they should remember it was them who started
raiding the pension fund and remember they are all
politicions and only look after themselves

kenneth jones, Dunfermline, scotlan/fife

Blair Brown deserving they are NOT of a single penny of there pension.
Just some of the promises made by labour:-
"Tough on Crime and the causes of Crime"!
"A 21st Century Health Service. "
"Education Education Education. "

Yes we have all paid our taxes and now we want our return Blair an Brown. What do we have weaker pensions, poor education, crime up, not enough prisons.

What we need is an election, not a coronation.

Raj, Dudley,

Those with company schemes get a pension dependant on their length of service and final salary. Only those on personal (money purchase) schemes have lost money from their fund. This was pointed out in the civil servants advice and is what makes the raid so unfair. Those with the worst schemes are penalised, those with the best (inc. G Brown) get off 'Scot Free'. It's this divisive nature of the raid which has not been pointed out forcefully enough.

Leroy, Ilford, Essex

not too keen on milliband but definately do not want brown as pm.

steve green, preston, england

Do we really want a dour, possibly dishonest accountant, with no personality leading the country ??

Richard Whitehead, Sharon, USA/VT

To blame the pension problems on stock market crash is completely shameful, every person knows that stock markets fluctuate.
However the changes Gordon Brown made ensured that pension schemes could never recover from a market crash.
If the changes had not been made then todays pension schemes would be better suited to deal with the market fluctuations.

This was a stealth grab for extra money that has only now fully come to light 10 years on.....
The true meaning of a stealth tax!

Any Chancellor who does not appreciate that stock markets go down as well as up and uses this as an excuse should resign.

A Sturgeon, London,

Destroying confidence in pensions will always be a millstone round Gordievsky Browns neck given the £5 Billion a year plundering of pension funds since 1997, the Equitable Life fiasco, letting down steel workers who had contributed to their now defunct pensions for 40 years plus, despite Government assurances that their funds were secure.

MP's pensions are generous, safe and index linked but not the people they were elected to serve !

What a disgrace !

Brown and his party apparatchiks will undoubtedly pay for it at the ballot box making him the longest serving chancellor but possibly the shortest serving Prime Minister !

And....the early indicators will show here in Scotland in May 2007

Terence Hart, Bellshill, Scotland

The pension fund disaster is largely the fault of incompetent actuarial professionals found at the time in pension fund management and in the Civil Service (e.g. The Treasury - where many of them still have jobs). The Institute of Actuaries and The Faculty of Actuaries, have much to answer for.

Mr Brown removed a much abused tax anomaly (i.e. non-taxation of "pension fund" dividend receipts).

The wider disaster was was caused mainly by rules which resulted in unusually high late 1990's stock market values being excessively relied upon in actuarial calculations (insufficient 'smoothing' or averaging of values over time) - and a failure to factor in major changes in mortality (people living and so being retired for much longer - thus greatly increasing the obligations to be funded of pension funds). This failure resulted in funds being calculated as "over funded". Employers can not justify funding pension funds excessively and tax relief on that is quite properly not allowed

G.G. Tayler MBA, Ph.D (Accounting & Finance), Huddersfield , West Yorkshire

Stalin would be proud of him.

pharbitis, Brighton, UK

The sad thing is that this has been obvious for years. The fact is that pensioners of the near future have paid the price of Brown's moral hazarrd as he has funded his chancellorship at the expense of future generations.

Why it needed this leak to be news is a measure of the poverty of journalism that needs something stated by someone else before even obvious facts and opinions become news.

So our pensions have been sacrificed to pay for massive computer systems that do not work, massive profits for moneymen thru PFI and higher wages for ever more public sector bean counters.

Brown has built nothing. His successes on poverty are unwinding. He has created estate ghettos by not building houses and placing needy families on public estates. He has not tackled public sector pensions but made the problem worse with massive wage hikes to doctors and bean counters to produce figures to show the world is better when it clearly is not. NL surely will not contest an election with him.

Jonathan da Silva, feltham, middlesex

Where's Gordon? Not on the Today Programme, not on the World at One. Maybe PM with Eddie Mair? That would be a treat.
Perhaps he's back in North Queensferry having a chat with Alex about the deputy leadership of the SNP.

john goodman, Ashford,

Of course it was obvious to Tony & Gordon that taking £6billion pounds a year out of the pension system would have a dramatic and adverse effect on the pensions system. Equally obvious is the fact that by destroying peoples pensions they would make many more people dependant on means tested benefits. This government is desperate to create the old Soviet style system whereby everyone is dependant on their handouts sp that come election time all they have to do is frighten everyone into thinking any other government would remove those benefits - hey presto guaranteed votes!

John Ralph, Worcester, England

MPs should get a defined contribution pension scheme like most of the people in private sector employment. The amount paid in should be set as the average of that paid in by private sector companies into their members schemes. The MP's interests would then be aligned with their citizens interests. In fact this approach should also be extended to public sector workers as well. It would seem fairer all round.

NR, Leigh-on-sea, UK

Gordon Brown, throughout his time as Chancellor, has relied on taxing by stealth, as he lacks the moral courage to state his case fairly and squarely to the tax-paying electorate. He left the Bank of England to run the economy (thank God) whilst he 'miked' it by stealth and deceit. The only 'balls' one can associate with the Chancellor is the guy who does his bidding in the office.
Brown's lack of political integrity (as well as an inability to communicate)disqualify him from ever becoming PM.

David gray, Corfe Mullen, Dorset

Is this a surprise? I'm taxed on the car i drive, taxed to drive in the city i live, environmentally taxed when its parked (and not doing any harm). Taxed. I'm taxed at work (fair enough) , taxed on my hard earned bonus (and now they want to increase that!), taxed on the new house I can barely afford (as Duty has not kept inline with inflation), taxed on my savings, taxed on my shopping, even taxed on the bed i sleep in. And now Brown has taxed/ robbed my future. As for Brown as PM, no thanks, I'd rather take my chances with Screaming Lord Sutch (deceased).

S. Carr, London, UK

David - you expect a politician to show respect for anything but his own short-term electability?

Brown would have ignored the advice whatever happened because it serves his objective of control. He can always borrow to pay tax credits to the pensioners who are worse off - if they ask the treasury nicely to replace the lost savings and provisions that they had already organised fro themselves.

Face it - Gordo wants to take in all the cash and then dole it out like a manipulative parent. Vote for him and you might as well hand him your wallet and your independence with it.

KR, Stockport,

Although the abolition of the dividend allowance depleted our pensions by 10% far worse was the introduction in 1997 of forced pension indexation (now recently abandoned). It was this indexation that forced companies to abandon final salary schemes, and in my case halved my pension. We have staff retiring after 28 years service on just £4000 pa pensions. Remember, Labour came to power promising to do something about pensions. They certainly did!

John, Sussex, UK

Every pensioner that has tried valiently to provide themselves with a comfortable pension in old age has been treated simply as another source of income for the treasury. All they have to do is find some sneaky way to get their hands on the money and then decide how to spend to best votes advantage, not logic for general good over the long term, but "will I get elected next time"!

What with the couincil tax and pension "raids" Mr Brown, you will have to find a whole new raft of poor pensioners to bribe, and then coerce them to vote for you!

Not me

Jim Golightly, Prudhoe, England

Gordon Brown must not simply assume the office of prime minister without facing any competition. Competitive elections and political contests are the foundation of a democratic system.

Bob, Manchester,

Goodness, has the public only just noticed the great raid on pension funds all those years ago. It really does show just how few people read the financial reports from their pension providers. I can remember the comments in both Press and my pension fund complaining about the huge changes and how it was going to effect my pension. Luckily my pension fund was strong and survived, but in those days the Labour Government could do no wrong.
I am afraid that when the electorate keep electing the same people back into power, it just makes them arrogant. You would think we would have learnt from the overlong years of Margaret Thatcher!

Adrian Chandler, Nelson, New Zealand

This pension business just shows that this man and in fact the whole bunch of them can not be trusted. They have had their own nose in the trough for too long. Just look at their pensions, I will guess 90% of the country would like to retire on what these people get to retire on. Absolutley disgrasfull. I blame all you who voted fro them

stepan bedrossian, staines, Surrey

So we are now to believe that the Treasury has been run by civil servants making the decisions. Do us a favour Ed Balls and treat us with some degree of intelligence. It also has not escaped this (over) tax(ed) payer that the gold plated final salary scheme of our politicians is not the least affected by such larceny, unlike my personal pension fund. Do not expect to get my vote this time.

JC, London, UK

As we are in the EEC we should all have a common and similiar right to a state pension scheme - we cannot all live off rental property income.
It is about time Labour put an end to what Maxwell & Privatisation started with regard to Pension Funds.

Derek Boulter, Sugar Land , Texas

Gordon Brown/Ed Balls should try telling the policy holders with Equitable Life that no damage has been done to the pension system. These people are reminded daily of the cabinets incompetence and personal greed.

Richard Evans, Huntingdon, Cambs

The whole country is 'Browned' off at the pension scandal. Let us hope he gets roasted at the next debate on the pensions matter....never mind the rest of us, as long as he, Tony and the rest of the bandits have a healthy pension!

Derek Clifton, Andover, Hampshire, England

It is often said that we get the Politicians that we deserve. Why therefore do we put up with the depletion of our Pensions, totally unacceptable taxation levels, and potential Prime Ministers that don't appear to have any regard for the financial wellbeing of Pensioners - if recent reports are to be believed. Pensioners have an increasing influence in the UK and it would be extremely foolish to ignore their feelings with regard to the damage to their financial position caused by this matter. It has been suggested that Funds within Pension Companies are the property of the Fund Membership - Contributors to the fund
- Potential Pensioners or Pensioners who are receiving a pension from the respective Pension Companies. If this is the case how can the Government legally remove £5 Billion per annum from Pension coffers without the express permission of the Fund Membership ?
A pension has often been likened to a deferred salary and as such is the contributors property. Is this true?

Irrit8ed, Kilmarnock, Scotland

Also:

I'M AS MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!

except I will, because that's what we do in this country.

Philip Freeman, Harrow, London

It is disgusting that Brown and Blair have the gall to push 'Joe Public' into saving for their retirement and deplete the value of the pot by taxation........but we all knew about this when they did it! This is not new......why all the extra fuss?.....I, like many others have probably had a devaluation of around 6% cumulative, of my fund since Brown did this......Brown has been a disaster for this country, with National Debt at ridiculous levels.....Maybe if a few of these Ministers had any actual business experience, then we might get a realistic Government who would actually work for the people and not against us!

Peter, Tamworth,

It's just a pity that it was The Times who pushed to get the facts published rather than the Conservatives! Whatever, the truth is out and hopefully will prove to be the end for Brown and New Labour.

Paul Savage, Lambourn, UK

This government is in meltdown.

An untrusted duplicitous faded Prime Minister only concerned with his so called "legacy" , likely to be followed by an arrogant , dour and now untrusted heir with a very large Scottish chip on his shoulder , currently hiding away with our brave soldiers because he ruined the lives of millions and the Times found him out.

The Osama Bin Laden of Whitehall.

The British public deserve better than this bunch of spin merchants whose sole aim seems to be to limit our freedom to damning information about them and their decisions.

But who?

Bob Green, Essex, England

The Labour Government have always taken money of the poor to give to the rich,that is their aim.They then give themselves large salaries,expences and pensions and their cronie's too. The Tories try to make everybody rich so there is lower taxes to pay by the lower paid.BUT who gets the criticism? Mrs Thatcher put more money in the pockets of the poor and the hard working than all the Labour governments in history. Mr Brown will keep up the tradition of hurting the poor, he knows no other way.

Eddie Ward, Llandrindod Wells, Radnor

Why should it be a surprise that Gordon was indifferent to the fact that he wrecked the best pensions system in the world.
If peasants have their own pensions they might get ideas of independance. Gordon would obviously much rather they remain supplicants for his (means tested) bounty, so that they remain properly grateful and vote the way he wants them to!

Mike Bibby, St Albans, England -not EU

Why was n't a furore made at the time by all the financial experts who are supposed to be so clever at forecasting? My husband who is medically not financially qualified said it would be disastrous when it was announced in 1997.
The wreck that has been made of our pensions system is appalling and ,alas, no party is going to restore the credits as the money is always needed.

Ann Woodings, Ipswich,

If any motorist, pensioner or health service dependent ever votes for New Labour ever again they deserve what they get.

M J Merriman, Nottingham, England

I am absolutely disgusted that Gordon Brown and his civil servant s did this. We have suffered for some years now with loss of pensions in the work place because of compasnies going bust or being unable to meet the demand. But most of all that most of the present day pensioners were people who stood up when it counted lost loved ones in the war and fought it here to keep our country free. Some have worked all their lives for nothing. Now we have pensioners not even given decent care as care homes are closing down and many are being expected to give over their homes or sacvings to pay for care that is at best under resourced and without asny compassion. this man should be held accountable for leaving a generation of people in this state. It is THEFT and should be scene as such. When people in power either political or buisiness can get away with this kind of thing how are our children supposed to learn respect and honour and values that are worth anything.

Noreen Evans, Birmingham, UK

2 points of clarification.
1. High salaries for MP's reduces fraud and sponsorship of MP's.
2. Gordon Brown, is guilty of poor disclosure and lack of judgement, not theft of this money. Consider him inept and deceitful, not dishonest.

I do hope John Reid decides to stand. Not perfect (who is?) but has the right attitude.

Steve, maida vale, london

Labour will lose the next 3 elections and they deserve it!!... Because they cannot show unity! And probably because Mr Blair prefers the Tories in government rather than his "personal enemy". Any chancellor has to raise taxes to finance expenses. Every tax hurts people, but they receive something in return. The 97 tax was introduced at a time (with government support?) when pension funds were quite overfunded because of the bull market (from 1982 to 2000) and it made perfect sense. At the same time, companies were taking pension contribution holidays that also lead to the pension disaster we are living. As always, when there is a windfall, the private and the public sector scramble to get as much as they can. The problem is the excessive nature of bull and bear markets. Now, what is sickening is to see this nasty undercover internal battle within the Labour party using the press to try to manipulate the electorate. Shame on Mr Blair and the Labour party! Public interest? Who cares?

Antoine, London, UK

Perhaps The Times should also request two other sets of papers from the Treasury.

The first would be those sets of advice concerning the (so-called) independence of the Bank of England and the setting up of the MPC and the identification of its target, intially the RPI now the CPI. It would be interesting to see what advice the Treasury provided on the outlook for and subsequent management of the economy.

The second set would be those related to the Equitable Life saga although the Treasury might wish to withhold these for two reasons.
The one as uncovered over Pensions that weak Life Mutual Companies would be adversely affected and the second because the policyholders expected the GAD to regulate and protect them and it seems very obvious that either the GAD failed as a regulator or were otherwise instructed by Government.

DMM, Eastbourne, UK

Gordon Brown is one of the most duplicitous chancellors that has ever been in office. He has made life absolute hell for Middle England with his increasing tax burden, unfair taxes aimed at the wealth creators, and the destruction of small and medium sized business through punative business rates and out of control local authorities.

The disclosure that he personally made the decision that ruined the pension and retirements plans for millions of citizens is a disgrace, he should be forced to resign and resign now before he manages to do any more damage. God forbid that he should become Prime Minister , his autocratic despotic style of government is more reminiscent of the Politburo than a modern democratic economy.

The sooner the Labour government is out the better, almost all of our infrastructure has been made worse by the Chancellor and his mandarins.

George Nagalewski, Charvil, Berkshire

Why all the surprise - Brown has done nothing but increase taxes of one kind or another since Labour came to power, but that is what Labour always do. When the electorate heard them promise not to raise income tax, very few were bright enough to realise that a host of other taxes would have to rise or even be invented in order to meet the spending plans.
The raid on pensions, rises in council tax, fuel tax, airport tax, inheritance tax not keeping up with house prices - the list goes on and on.
The latest thing of course are Green Taxes, all based on uncertain science, but used by Brown to raise taxes, and again the electorate doesn't see what lies behind it all.
It would be wonderful if only Labour voters were forced to pay all of these tax increases, then some of them may at least think twice before falling for Labour half truths.

tony dummelow, birmingham,

Gordon Brown should be ,personally and financially ,responsible for the catastrophic effects on our pension funds caused by his decission to stop dividend tax relief on these funds. As an ex-small business man from his constituancy, selling up and retiring due to poor health I had to move abroad to live on the much reduced proceeds of my personal pension. Being unable to afford a decent life style even in Kirkcaldy. As a Scot, never voting tory, in business over twenty years in Fife, seeing the deterioration of business conditions over the last ten years, I count myself lucky to have gotten out now, as nothing gives me much hope of future improvement under this government. As for Brown's stewardship of the economy, he has, indeed, carried the luck. His 'masterstroke' of giving responsibility over interest rates to BOE was correct but at that time was to give him someone else to blame if things went wrong.

peterb, Kirkcaldy, Scotland

The Government Actuaries Department (GAD) recommend the amount of National Insurance that is rebated back into private pension schemes. Perhaps The Times would also like to explore why Mr Brown has gone against his own actuaries opinion and is actually paying less back into private pensions. It would not be to keep more of our pension money in his tax coffers now would it?
Oh, and another thing, perhaps you could also ask how they have managed to exempt themselves form penal elements of the new Aday pension legislation. Criminal!

John, Solihull,

We told yer so...........quit complaining.

victor , Malaga, Spain

I fear commentors are deliberately, or ignorantly, only giving one side of the story in order to score political points. Something had to be done in 1997 about the short-termism of UK business, in which the tax system encouraged companies to pay dividends rather than invest in the their businesses for the long term. Since insurance companies were the major investors this inevitably hit pension finds, but this was a price worth paying for long-tem stability, and pensions have benefited hugely from many continuous years of economic growth. The Pension 'hole' has more to do with the global stock market 'dot.com' crash, the aging of the population, and unprecedented years of low inflation.

J Jones, London,

Re: Nick Carter--surely he has it backwards about Mr. Greenspan. His critics complained that he was too much focused on inflation and so curbed growth by raising interest rates.

David Chardavoyne, Detroit, Michigan

At last we have a clear idea what socialism is. Funds created by many thousands of hours of work of workers efforts are used by the government to fund all those NON-JOBS. The billions that were wasted should stand up and shout enough is enough. We must also have a clear commitment from any future government that they must limit their spending. Too much government is the scourge of modern society.

wallace, Breuil Barret, France

Gordon Brown has embezzled such huge sums of money from pensions that it make Robert Maxwell look a positive saint. He has stolen that money to bribe the mass electorate with the so-called Working and Child Tax Credits. The latter has been a complete shambles and open to fraudulent claims on a massive scale.

John Smythe, London, England

I would just like to say a big "Thankyou" to Mr Brown for making a decision on an issue for me and my wife, an issue over whether or not we should live in the U.K. when we grow old and toothless. Given that British pensioners are, indeed, toothless in their fight for a decent pension, we will stay here, where I can continue to work until I drop. I pay very little income tax and the government is very wary of imposing 'stealth' taxes, for fear of insurrection. Beer is 10p a pint bottle, cigarettes 25p a pack.
Need I say more?

Nick McGine, Wuhan, China

This is ridiculous... Blair is a far better leader, can't we just get him to stay on?

leo, oxford, UK

Once upon a time, governments with half the problems that this lot have had, would gone to the country. It's high time that that were the preferred option to the miserable inept scotsman taking over as an unwanted prime minister.

Alan Sparke, ST REMY SUR LIDOIRE, FRANCE

With his stealth taxes and his raid on pension funds (which is still continuing) Gordon Brown has shown himself as a man not to be trusted. If he took the top job it would be a disaster for the country and the Labour Party.

Brian Haver, Leicester,

This change in pensions has had long reaching effects. It has fuelled the housing market situation, with people now relying on property as retirement funds instead of pensions. Its absolutely disgraceful that this financial incompentence should be rewarded by a Premiership.

D White, London, UK

Perhaps Gordon Brown would like to explain how ripping £5 billion a year out of pensions is a tactical masterstroke that creates an environment whereby pension funds are, "gainers in the future" - Ed Balls.

Steve Yates, London, UK

I find it VERY worrying when I read that Mr Brown is/has being/been advised by the former FED Chief Mr Greenspan whose monetary policy for a couple of decades has been "don't worry about inflation, interest rates or property bubbles, we'll just print more dollars".

I also understand that Mr Brown has borrowed more than all previous chancellors put together which is a very similar to the American President!

Nick Carter, Waterlooville, England

Yes maybe he will, David , but `I suspect Gordon Brown will have his finger in
every pie ,if [unlikely ] he becomes P M.
He's a control freak & a medler, he will expect his minions to ask his permission on all things.

Maggie Millington, Brittany, France

Isn't it time this Government listened to the people and called for a General Election. But of course the Labourites won't subject themselves to certain defeat. Nobody in their right mind would vote Labour next time around after all they have done to this country in 10 short years. I for one have had enough of this Stalinist regime.

Sharon, Staines, Middlesex

The British electorate gets the government it deserves and is prepared to tolerate! In the private sector,Blair & Brown would not only be history, they would be considered unemployable in whatever profession they applied their 'talents' yet, Blair is about to complete 10 years in office, with Brown, PM designate. Could'nt make it up could you?

Kevin Sullivan, London, UK

Commissar Brown sneaked this devastating tax on pensions through in his very first Budget; the ramifications were not clear to the vast majority then.
Ten years on, with many final salary schemes closed and with nearly everyone's pensions ( excluding MPs and civil servants ) significantly reduced as a result of the £ 100 billion theft, we are all a lot wiser and a lot poorer.
No amount of Labour spin or attempts to blame the last Conservative Government can hide the truth: Labour raided everyone's pensions and wasted the money.

Rick, London, England

To David Stuart in Aldershot, I say it most cetainly does matter whether Brown wrecked pensions. Firstly, if he did, it shows he is incompetent and that his perception as a superb Chancellor is misguided. Secondly, if he can lie to the country about the damage and effect of his actions in this way over pensions, (and fight the disclosure under the FOI Act) then he is not fit to be Prime Minister.
I still believe that his boast of no more boom and bust will shortly be shown to be rubbish, and the entire UK economy is going to collapse as Sterling dives, house prices crash, and the wider pack of cards collapses as a result.
Let's see.

Derrick, Godalming,

I cannot understand why the general public is still prepared to give Tony Blair and Gordon Brown so much respect. It has been shown time and time again that between them they head the most deceitful government since the war.
How many more lies do we have to endure from them? Their own backbenchers have not got the guts to stand up to them so why is there not some procedure so that we the general public can demand an immediate general election so we can throw them and their lies out of government. The country needs a change before before they do any more damage.

Reginald Tripp, Alton, Hampshire

Why don't we all take him to court for stealing from our Pensions?

Alex, London,

Anyone who takes from the future to pay for current consumption has very little financial acumen. I go on record from 1997 of pointing this out to all of my associates. I also doubled my retiriement contiribtuions at that time.

Gordon Brown will go down in history as the biggest mandirin this country has had the misfortune to suffer. He ranks right up there with the labour economists who came very close to ruining the United Kingdom in the 1960's - a charlitan of the first water.

A prudent investor

fbrossiter, Brough Green, UK

Like many others, my FTSE-250 company pension scheme buckled last year under mounting pressure to a defined contribution scheme. Either Brown knew what is actions would be - in which case he has a callous disregard for the countless individuals effected, or he didn't - in which case he is guilty of ignorance or gross misjudgement. Whichever he is not fit to govern this country.

Paul, Mirfield, UK

At last Brown is exposed! Robber of peoples hard earnt pensions. What about the sale of a vast proportion of our gold reserves? How much did that cost us? There are many skeletons in the Chancellor's closet and it appears they are at last catching up with him. This man is the true master of deceit, making Blair look like an amateur! Hopefully the Scottish electorate will give 'the big hitter' a bloody nose and assist the British public to consign him to the dustbin of history! Best Chancellor ever? Only in Gordon and Tony's dreams!

Rodney Ballard, Leicester, Leicestershire

The simple reality is that Gordy will never give up the reins of the Treasury - it is now clear that our PM has never been allowed any input into the Budget process. In contrast, should Gordy takes over as PM, his replacement will be a busted flush from day one.

Neil Marshall, Cambridge, UK

It was obvious, 10 years ago, that the ACT changes would undermine the pensions system.
I just assumed that Gordon Brown, the unreconstructed socialist, preferred a country where the Commissars and their Civil Service apparatchiks had golden pensions but the proletariat had to make do with the crumbs that fell from the top table.
Isn't that how it was?
It has certainly turned out that way.

John Fothergill, aylesbury, UK

The country is now discovering what we tax practitioners have known for many years. Gordon Brown is actually not very good at Tax, except in the cynical sense of plucking the taxpayer goose with a minimum of hissing. He has made the system more complicated, illogical, damaging, oppressive and unfair.

Frank Upton, Frank Upton,

Public office appears to be milk cow for MPs future income.
MPs should not be able to set their own salaries/pensions.
While they are an MP they should organise their own private pension.

Their setup is far too cosy, is paid by the taxpayer, and they don't deserve special treatment.

h, belfast, n ireland

Even if Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister, I very much doubt that he will relinquish his total control over the economy and the new Chancellor will be nothing more than a puppet.

David, Torquay, England

The Times forgot to highlight that Gordon Brown and his cronies have index linked pensions which will increase each year: a type which the public are not able to buy on the open market. And after one day in the job of Prime Minister, Mr Brown will qualify for his £123,000 pension (just one day – a nice little trick). But how much did he personally have to save towards this?

jj, Cambridgeshire, UK

The Tories have drawn the publics attention to this. But they havent saidf what they'll do about it. I will never vote labour because of this issue, but unless I am promised a fix how can I believe the tories will reverse this, unless they tell me they will?

Al, Newcastle,

After the disclosures of Gordon Brown's raid on pensions it is clear that he is not fit to become Prime Minister.
His right hand man Ed Balls is telling porkies when he says that they were advised by Civil Servants to go ahead when the clear evidence is that they were advised not to do it by Civil Servants.
I have lost all respect for Gordon Brown.

Thomas Ralphs, Leigh, England

At last the Great British public are waking up to what Gordon Brown has done to their pensions. This man treats the electorate with complete contempt, assuming that no-one will realise what he is up to.

He must face a contest, come on Labour, show that you have cojones!

Dino Trubbianelli, Altea, Spain

How typical that, once again, when the Chancellor should be in Parliament answering questions he is out of the Country. During the Budge debate he has in a meeting on N; Ireland and unavailable. Other times he is in Brussells. Well, as Mohamed Ali famously said "he can run but he can't hide".

Brian Filby, Fondettes, FRANCE

The people who believe Brown will make a good PM are the same gullible mugs who claim he has been a great Chancellor. The good news is the Labour cancer continues to rot from within.

David Thijm, Stourbridge, UK

No wonder Brown would never support Blair on the euro.
The day that the UK joins the euro will be the day that politicians stop fudging the books, and start following rules that benefit the economy and not the party machine!

Peter GODDARD, Epsom, England, EU

I am sure there is another paper somewhere in the labyrinth of Treasury which must have warned Brown of propping up the economy by expanding the public sector on borrowed funds, while at the same time wasting tax earnings on projects where ten times increase in spending leads to mere 5% improvement (NHS). Please keep looking for these too.

Prabhat, UK,

So we let Gordon off the hook because some civil servants said changing the tax on pension funds would be OK. Their fault not his. Have we heard this before from Labour cabinet ministers? Yes. Do we accept the argument? No way.
Best wishes

Ton Jones, Grantham, UK

Gordon Brown is by far the worst Chancelor that I can remember. he has raided the pensions of Millions of Potential labour supporters. Whatever happens if he is elected leader of theLabour Party Then they will become unelectable and we will inevitably face the next Tory Govern ment and I fear more of the same as we had in the Thatcher and Major years which lead to the down fall of the tories. This current situation will lead to the downfall of the Labour Government

William Brannagan, Chatham, united kingdom

This highlights for me the presing need for reform, to make sure that the complicated issues involved in financial legislation are made transparent before they become law; I mean, transparent to the public, not just to accountants.

We have heard so much about 'stealth' in government. Surely, democratic principles dictate that we have openness?

Nev, Rudkøbing, Denmark

Surely it's nonsense to claim that the change was made on the advice of civil servants. They are the people unaffected by the change. Why should the civil service advice dictate policy anyway? I thought that was why we elect a Government.

Austin, London,

I am sure that, if you keep looking, you will also find papers advising Brown on the risks of propping economy up by expanding public sector on borrowed funds whilst wasting tax earnings into projects which delivers 5% improvement after 500% increase in investment (NHS).

Prabhat, UK,

Blair should remain as PM or call an early general election to be fair to the electorate. Who wants Brown I certainly would not vote for him, he needs to head north of the border where they are all hoping for Independence from us, sooner rather than later.

Bugsy, Burley-in-Wharfedale, England

Brown with his many many flaws will be a disaster as PrimeMinister but the prospect of Blair staying on is a much worse scenario.Let's face it, Nu Labour has nobody with the talent to take the leadershipm role; a General Election is the way forward.

paul turfery, cork, ireland

For the leadership, it hardly matters that Gordon Brown has undermined the British occupational pension system, frittered the proceeds away, and stacked up colossal liabilities on public sector pensions and PFI. Unless Tony Blair can be persuaded to stay on while Hutton and Miliband get some big department experience, or Jack Straw unhitches himself from Gordon's bandwagon, there is no viable alternative. Besides, it may be that Gordon will appoint a chancellor who will show more respect for the taxpayers of the next 25 years, than he has done himself.

David Stuart, Aldershot,