BarTalk

Will Brown make a better Prime Minister than Blair?

Stuart Wright

Brewery Tap

Peterborough

Cambridgeshire

Gordon Brown is not really my favourite person. He keeps putting up the prices on our beer and cigarettes. I don't think he's very popular round our bar - but then, nor was Blair. On the other hand Tony Blair was a bit of a ditherer; I think Brown's going to be more direct. I just hope he chooses a Chancellor who is more sympathetic to the trade and keeps taxes low - I think that would make people warm to him a bit more.

John Ellis

Crown Inn

Oakengates

Shropshire

I think Brown is going to be more astute than Blair - a bit more hard-headed. Most of his budgets have been good, but the last one was awful - it will badly affect people who aren't well off. I think he has shot himself in the foot and landed himself in some trouble. On the other hand, he's less emotionally driven than Blair. I suppose it's all about what he does with the issues facing him. I think that overall, we're nervously optimistic.

James Blake

Goat & Tricycle

Bournemouth

Dorset

Who knows - at the end of the day he's just got a job to do like the rest of us.

Blair has done a few things to help us and some things he's done have caused a problem, but I think at the end of the day you have to be a bit supportive, as it's not an easy job. I didn't like the last budget - I had to push up my beer prices and my customers don't like that, but that won't be his job any more, will it? Good luck to him.

Suzie Dreja

Royal Oak

Southampton

Hampshire

No, I don't want the country to be run by a Scotsman! I don't like the way he's going to come into power without the approval of the British public. I think he's abrupt and arrogant and I don't like his policies. His employment laws really squeeze small businesses with extra holiday and maternity pay. They have enough on their plates and they could really flourish if there was less legislation. I think Brown is a wolf in sheep's clothing.