Could this possibly be, the worst Government we've ever had? No one likes them! 1997 and to the song "things can only get better". Well, life got better for Blair who made millions, and I dare say life has got better for the rest of his croonies. Your on borrowed time Labour, and I can't wait!

Could it also be a co-incidence that Scotsman Brown chooses to give away our money for free prescriptions etc to his countrymen whilst denying the English similar privileges? Sack the lot of them!

Brilliant ...

However ""Would you want to smile or pose with a pickpocket who had a hand in your pocket?" does not go far enough to reflect the underhanded deceptive lying and manipulating nature of the Home Secretaries action.
However such action is now the norm in this "fag end" of a Government with nothing to lose as they have lost the next election.
Even the die hard socialist in my boozer are voting tory next time around.
I just look forward to see Gordon being beaten in his own seat by the SNP - the same party and scottish devolution he encouraged and created.

Isn,t it time these people started to act like sensible grownups,and not as babies :I'll go in a corner and sulk attitudes

Well Brown, now that you have ripped the financial heart out of every working man what are you planning next. Get out of number 10 and better still get out of this country, you are worse than the Blairs .

This may only happen once in a blue moon, but for once I agree,wholeheartedly, with the Police.

brown is no leader and labour is so far off the people in this country that they dont stand a chance in the next general election.

they just dont seem to have the guts to give the people what they want!

Sounds like Gordon Brown and his cronies are really being welcomed this time in Manchester! Just look at the opinion poll in the MEN today. 71% think see no benefit to Manchester. Now even the Police are cold shouldering them.

Gordon Brown...? Didn't he used to be Prime Minister...?

"Sounds like Gordon Brown and his cronies are really being welcomed this time in Manchester! Just look at the opinion poll in the MEN today. 71% think see no benefit to Manchester. Now even the Police are cold shouldering them." - The Seeker, Eccles

Fantastic observation. In future, we should dispense with costly elections and referenda, and just have MEN readers decide what's good for us.

Duhhhhhh.

If Mr Burrows is comparing Pickpockets with the Government then shouldn't the Police be arresting them

All I can say is...big deal. Is "not posing for photgraphs" going to bring down the government? If the Police Federation wanted to be really ruthless there are far more effective sanctions they could recommend. Missing out on a photo op is not going to give any of these sleaze merchants sleepless nights.

It looks like only the Government are sleaze merchants?. Wishful thinking. The government pay the wages at the end of the day. What ruthless things could the Police do to the Government. The Police are on enough wages. I am sure if inflation doe's get out of control the Police will be compensated. A true Police force wouldn't hold the government to ransom. You all want replacing with an iraqi Police force

JayTilzey....Did you know that it is a criminal offence for a police officer to even talk about industrial action let alone going on strike?

Instead of reading the letter from Mr Burrows literally try looking at the sub text behind it. I think he makes the point very clear and is causing significant embarrassment to this uncaring Government.

Yes, I am aware of that - what makes you think I was suggesting it? The Irish police had an epidemic of "blue flu" which skirted around, but did not cross into, illegality. That's the kind of ruthlessness I'm talking about, subtext or not.

To the contributor who comments about the police being paid well enough: pay attention, that's not the issue. The government did a very underhand and sneaky thing to a group of relatively helpless workers - the £200 is not the point. Your profession or mine, if they haven't been shafted already like the teachers and NHS, could be next.

Whoever is in power will always have some muppet trying to topple them instead of getting on with real issues that need to be addressed in order to sort this soft country out.

No sense getting nasty Laura. The party really is nearly over for Noo Labour.

JayTilzey....Are you sure? Blue Flu when they wear green? Also, I believe the Garda have a union and can actually take industrial action which includes striking. The PSNI, who also wear green, cannot and are subject to the same legal restrictions as the mainland.

A blue flu would, in my opinion, alienate the general population. This message has received national attention without resorting to the ultimate sanction and has caused significant embarrassment for Gordon Brown.

Why shoot of all your ammo when the opening round does the job?

Firstly I would like to point out that I am Pro Police, Pro System, and Pro Government. I feel that it doesn’t matter who is in power at this time because I feel they would be in the same situation.

It is my view that it isn’t Gordon Brown that is to blame for the wage issue with the Police. I am of the view that the problem has arisen due to a recession and again I feel it is something that Mr Brown hasn’t any control over, I feel it is global markets/ Global forces that have caused this problem of which Mr Brown has no control. The system we are in is always going to lead to these problems, but they come and go.

When we are born we enter a system and you can also be invited into the system, if you are not happy with it you are free to go and live in the Amazon if you want.

It is my view that the Police may need versing in global economics this should then explain why we are all in this position, I feel that Mr Brown wants to keep the economy stable during the recession, and keep are place in the Market which is fourth place and not ending up back in the stone age.

In the meantime Mr Brown has to try and collect revenue from were he feels fit, I feel he is spreading the load rather than robbing peter to pay paul which I feel is what the may Police want, I feel the police don’t care where the money comes from as long as they are getting their money, which if it is the case it is called self centred.

We should all be sticking together and ride the storm and not go back to the 70s.

I have read Mr Burrows letter and obviously they are making sure that things don't get out of control regarding pay. But looking at the pay issue for last year the Police Got their normal wage and the 2.5% rise so the issue is that it wasn’t back dated and officers lost £200 a year, which is £3.84 a week, that to me is a joke moaning over £3.84 per head. I feel some people don't know when they are on to a good thing. My view is that the Government are asking for help in hard times, just give it to them, they are not picking on you, they are asking the system to band together in hard times.

My next issue regarding Mr Burrows letter relates to Officers being encouraged to give the cold shoulder to Government leaders, I feel this is wrong and it is going against the code of conduct which is not justified in my view, Mr Burrows states that as a GMP Officer you treat the Public in such a manner without being told to do so. My View is Mr Burrows is encouraging the opposite by merely implanting in officers heads that they can do as they please. In effect it is disobedience in my view if he is implanting in officers head that they can choose if they want to cold shoulder people for no good reason. In effect Mr Burrows is being ruthless and its just another part of the relentless exercise. I wonder if someone is leading Mr Burows up the garden path.

The other issue is, is Mr Burrows aware of the Police going beyond their duties and engaging in photo shoots in the past and in other areas where the Police have gone beyond there duties, and if it is the case why has it been allowed.

I would also like to point out that because the Police say that the Government failed to ratify the pay award, it doesn’t mean they are dishonourable and that hey don’t have special value on the office of Constable.

Based on a reduced pay rise of a mere £3.84 it maybe that the majority of the public don’t want to hear it, I have never seen the Police sticking up for workers outside of the Police so I feel there is not point trying to drum up public Support, The Police have a motto us and them.

At the end of the day the Public hand the money to the government and in turn they pay the Police.

My view is that it maybe that the Government and quiet rightly if it is the case are tugging back the control before it gets out of hand, I also feel that it is a good idea that the Home Secretary has publicly announced that she is to impose a pay review body to replace the current negotiating bodies, one of the reasons maybe, for this is so that he Government can slap your wrists rather than the Police trying to slap theirs.

If you want to come and grab me by the ear and take me home feel free.

Big Blue CITY...You must be a labour politician trotting out all the old rhetoric instantly recognisable as language contained in the government briefing paper handed out at the time.

If you cannot recognise honesty or the lack of it then there is no point continuing the argument. The truth of the matter is the Government lied to the police. The award was for 2.5% but Jacqui Smith's interjection reduced it to 1.9%. Even though the award might only equate to £200 it is the principle.

The principle being that Gordon Brown endorsed the wholesale theft by supporting and encouraging the worst Home Secretary in living memory to reduce the police pay award using an onerous reason. However, he did allow the Scottish police forces including his own parliamentary area to receive the money in full. He lied, as did Jacqui Smith, by stating that the £30 million reduction was necessary to keep inflation under control. Despite the fact that the Bank of England and just about every independent business and financial institution concurred that the rise was of no inflationary influence. Then he gave Northern Rock £50 billion to name just one "non inflationary" hand-out.

It is amazing how arbitration is only binding on one side and Jacqui Smith can just apply it if she wishes or just dismiss it if she wishes.

You should understand that this government is no friend of the working population. In addition, they can ride rough shod over the police because, by law, they have no right to industrial action or to withdraw labour. This is why the whole issue of arbitration being binding is so important. A simple issue you fail or choose to ignore. But symptomatic of your typical labour party politician and hanger-on.

Mr Burrows says:
"Please be professional, friendly, and polite when interacting at the conference. Our code of conduct requires this, and as a GMP officer you treat the public in such a manner without being told to do so."

How can that be treated as anything other than a request to act with integrity. Perhaps the government should take lessons. However, it is well known that politicians seek photo opportunities with the police as they consider it good press. They have kicked the police in the teeth once too often and as a result all goodwill is used up. This government have overseen the dismantling of law enforcement for the sake of the target driven culture. They have no interest in the office of constable as they wish to recruit uniformed members of the public to enforce the law including PCSO's and the council rangers who I know hear are going to fine you if you sit in a traffic jam with your engine on. The police cannot officially offer support to any other group of workers and, I suspect, do not want support from anywhere else. The police have made mistakes in the past but it seems are always accountable.

The pay review body is a further kicking of the police because its imposition is as a result of them not agreeing to a 2.2% deal this year with a further two year deal on top without a trigger point which would protect them from rampant inflation. In view of this government's record, I think it is a perfectly proper and sensible option to explore.

However, I do not expect you to alter your labour tainted views. I do not expect you to agree because 54,999,600 people in this country are always wrong and do not know what is good for them. Thank goodness for the 300 labour members of parliament who recognise this and know what is good for us.

Dear Mr Kelly

I would just like to say that I don't support labour or any other Government Group, I have never read any Government briefing paper, I have only ever voted once in my life. I am just Pro the System and any Government that is there as long as they seem reasonable obviously you have enlightened me to some extent and I will take that onboard, I was just giving an opinion on a certain topic. I just like freedom of speech and all the other freedoms we have. If I had my way I would be down No 10 and I would sift through everything to make sure that my opinions were right. Regarding the Scottish Force it maybe that they number in few in comparison to England and it didn't cost a lot and that may be the reason why they got that award, obviously there is some reason why they got it and England didn't, me now looking at it from your perspective it seems that the numbers don't add up with regards to Scotland and England, Let's just put it down recession. I do like to think I do recognize honesty I am not a prude, I assume you are aware that I recognize honest and the lack of it otherwise you wouldn't have carried on with your statement, has I have said I was just giving an opinion to certain points, I gave my reason for my opinion without knowing the facts.

I think that if there were enough money to go around why not give it? I dont think they were being greedy it still is my view that the recession is a problem and if it isn't that it's greed or something is upsetting the Government, I dont Know.

What was the real reason for the deduction of the £30 million if it wasn't to keep inflation under control. You can only say they were lying if you know the true reason.

If the economy is suffering around the world how would any Government here fair better. You can't do business if big institutions are going bust, because there is no one there.

If I am truthful I would be happy to see someone do a better job if it was possible.

Alan, yes I'm sure. In "Ireland" (not Northern Ireland) the Garda wear blue uniforms. The Garda Representative Association is not a union (as with the Police Federation), and its members are prevented by law from striking, hence the outbreak of "Blue Flu".

The Blue Flu is a way of trying to get a means to an end by going on the sick.

Mr Kelly

You said that the Government lied about the pay rise it seems that that wasn’t he case.

Apparently the police agreed to go to arbitration to negotiate a deal, at that time it wasn’t agreed that a pay deal had been reached that's why they were going to arbitration to negotiate.

then there was an agreement in the rise but it wouldn’t be backdated

so it seems that no one had gone back on a deal looking at burrows letter.

A recommendation isn’t an agreement

Ms Smith just refused to Backdate the claim which had never been agreed previously.

Big Blue City…The reason for not giving the £30 million was to give the police a beating in wage rise terms. The police pay rise runs from September and has always been an index of other wage rises. This means that ½ of the indexed wage rises are more than the police and ½ are less. The government and particularly Jacqui Smith stated that the £30 million was to keep inflation under control which was immediately rebutted by the Bank of England. One of them was incorrect. The leaking of a home office email actually outlining the tactic of giving the police a financial kicking confirms the fact that this was a deliberate act by the government. You clearly don’t understand the facts or finance. If you think that £30 million would cause inflationary pressure to the UK economy then you are extremely misinformed. This government spends billions each day of the year and £30 million is loose change top our economy. For example: £50 billion to Northern Rock; £7 billion to Cross Network Rail; £3 billion to impose a congestion charge; multi billions of £’s in aid and assistance to Afghanistan and Iraq. The reason it was honoured in Scotland is because the Scottish Parliament are honourable and realised that they valued their law enforcement.

Sharif Azul Celeste City…The truth of the matter is that the police were due a pay rise on the 1st September 2007. Following interference from the Home Secretary in the negotiating machinery there was a failure to agree. The arbitration tribunal agreed a certain figure which was to be paid. The Home Secretary deliberately and maliciously applied the pay rise from the first of December which meant the pay rise was effectively reduced to the figure she wanted during her meddling. It was a clear breach of trust, a smack in the face for arbitration which is clearly not binding and dishonest because the clear intention of the arbitration panel was for the pay rise in full from 01/09/07. Her lies stem from her attempts to justify it on inflation grounds which have been proven to be wrong and her clear and unequivocal deceit was confirmed following the leak of the email between Home Office departments outlining the course of action undertaken. It was planned and deliberate. It was deceitful and dishonest and it was recognised by several hundred Members of Parliament who signed an early Day Motion criticising the Government. Your attempts to justify Ms Smith’s contemptible actions are a joke.