Brown Challenged To Change - Paul Holmes MP Writes...

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Jun 2007

Speaking as Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield, Paul Holmes said:

"The new Prime Minister Gordon Brown must change his policies and end the spin.

Brown has been the second most powerful man in British politics for the last 10 years. As Chancellor he has held the purse strings.

When Chesterfield's Royal Hospital was told to cut 10% from its budget over 3 years (2006-2009), it was Brown who was responsible for the cuts in medical staff such as nurses and midwives posts.

When Councils like Chesterfield and Sheffield were told they should privatise their Council Houses it is Brown's financial policies that are to blame.

When Derbyshire is the fourth worst funded police force in the country it is Brown who has controlled the money.

When Blair launched the illegal and disastrous invasion of Iraq it was Brown who voted for it and signed the cheques.

Yet Brown now says he wants to tackle the NHS, Education, Crime. What has he been doing for the last 10 years?

His new Deputy Leader is just as bad. Harriet Harman told Labour Party members she thought the Party should revisit its policies on Iraq, Tuition Fees and the £75 billion Trident renewal project -all of which she voted for! Now she has been elected as Deputy Leader she has already started to backtrack on what she said about Iraq whilst she was seeking votes.

"Brown must turn his back on the spin and broken promises - even if it means reversing many of the policies he has been the financial architect of over the last 10 years".