By James Tapsfield, PA Political Correspondent
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here to see the video.
Downing Street was accused of wasting taxpayers' money by making a joke film in response to a petition to make Jeremy Clarkson Prime Minister.
The 55-second clip was created after nearly 50,000 people backed a call for the Top Gear presenter to replace Gordon Brown at Number 10.
Posted on Downing Street's YouTube site, it thanks everyone who signed the online petition, and says officials have "thought long and hard" about the suggestion.
The camera then pans up the famous Downing Street steps, where there are photographs of former PMs, before focusing on an image of Mr Clarkson.
The final message reads: "But on second thoughts... maybe not."
A Conservative Party spokesman insisted the Government had become "detached" from reality.
"While the British public is having to tighten its belts, the Government is spending taxpayers' money on a completely frivolous project," he said.
"This shows how detached the Labour Party has become from the concerns of the British people."
But a Downing Street spokesman stressed the film was a joke, and had not cost any extra money to make.
"It was a pretty light-hearted petition, so we gave it a light-hearted answer. A member of staff put it together in a spare half-hour."
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Showing comments 1 to 20 and replies | View All
Laura Norder, Didsbury (20/08/2008 at 12:38)
Just how much did Boris Chancer (sic) - I, of course mean Londoners - pay for the new mayor's champagne, caviar and smoked salmon bash after winning the post?
The 'Number 10' video must have cost fourpence to compile.
Clarkson, is an overgrown schoolboy well past his use-by date.
Top Gear, when it focused(!) on motoring, was a decent, informative watch. Now it is merely a vehicle(!!) for a trio of giggling, fatuous grunts, enjoying jolly-boy outings at the expense of the licence-payer.
The Beeb should pension him - and his sipmpering, adoring acolytes - off.
Kiwi-blue, Christchurch NZ (20/08/2008 at 13:38)
Sorry to disappoint you, but Top Gear is an excellent television programme and worth every penny of BBC money!
Barney Gumball (20/08/2008 at 13:43)
Laura Norder, Didsbury (20/08/2008 at 13:49)
For the record: you do know that Ena Sharples is dead, don't you? ;-)
Jomov (20/08/2008 at 14:07)
Ace Shakepseare, manchester (20/08/2008 at 14:33)
Dave Dave (20/08/2008 at 14:33)
What about the people who wasted Number 10's time by submitting this petition then?
we deserve better (20/08/2008 at 14:49)
No doubt you'll both be enjoying the millionth re-run of Dad's Army.
Kiwi-blue, Christchurch NZ (20/08/2008 at 16:05)
bluedefence (20/08/2008 at 17:39)
Mmmmm of course when David Davis resigned and forced a stunt bi-election that was already stitched up by getting the Liberals to stand aside, Labour didn’t take part and he won a “courageous and principled victory” against the Raving Loonies at the cost of £100, 000, that wasn’t a waste of taxpayers money was it?
Thank you.
Guten Tag (20/08/2008 at 18:37)
Ace Shakepseare, manchester (20/08/2008 at 20:51)
No but im sick to death of watching the reruns of "topgear" and that safari drive across africa and then the one across the ice etc. its time to put this old topdear show to where it belongs in the vaults of the tv company....
S P In exile, Tameside (21/08/2008 at 05:39)
Mr Angry, Bury (21/08/2008 at 08:38)
Top Gear is a classic example of dumbing down, when it started it was interesting and informative now its just silly overgrown public schoolboys messing about with Ferraris at the licence payers expense.
I would rather drive a Mk II Cortina or Hillman Avenger than one of these "look at me arent I very rich" status symbols anyway
citycentre, manchester (21/08/2008 at 10:30)
so thats 24,278 more than have ever voted for Clarkson
under our election system it is traditional for the queen to ask the leader of the party with most elected members to form a government, so the largest party ultimatly decides
Once again (21/08/2008 at 11:43)
mspig, Manchester (21/08/2008 at 12:22)
Mr Angry, Bury (21/08/2008 at 12:26)
Stibby1 (22/08/2008 at 14:34)
Ace Shakepseare, manchester (25/08/2008 at 12:53)
Once again its all about the TV companies controlling the viewing public.If you give the public nothing interesting to watch or repeats all the time they will watch this topgear garbage.CONSUMERISM is the word brainwash people into buying into this "You need a new car" And it must be fast and use lots of petrol and cost the earth to insure?.Topegear is about interesting as watching paint dry.and if you knew how much money they waste on hiring some of these cars,you would stop watching the show.a mate of mine has hired some american trucks to them and they paid very well for them ...the licence fee payers are being ripped off.