Terry,
I merely speak as I find - always the best way, IMO.
I've had very few dealings with government but, from those I have had - talking to DCMS, HM C&E, the Treasury, and the OFT mostly in the course of my work as a small-time exchanger operator - I've formed a very favourable impression of the civil servants as young, intelligent, hard-working, impartial chaps (and nothing like the ''Sir Humphreys'' I was half expecting) but found that politicans are often swayed by IMO grubby, vested, interests: Geoff Howarth on the William Hill payroll making an abortive and laughable 11th-hour attempt to get betting exchanges punitively taxed in 2003 being a notable example.
However, I do rather like John Healey, based on the fact he always replies to letters courteously, promptly and professionally and once even emailed me on a Sunday! :lol:
As for Brown, he has presided over a period of economic stability and steady growth - no Nigel Lawson/Norman Lamont he. B)