This plan may not be ideal but at least it’s something. The Prime Minister has seized the bull by the horns, has identified where the problems lie and has come up with the best possible solution he can in the circumstances. He should be rewarded for his forward thinking and the actions he’s taking. What are the other world leaders doing?

Just because they're doing something does not mean that it's the best thing for this country. Yes he has identified all of the problems, but that does not prove a single thing. I mean come on, lets say that (for the sake of argument) that a mother is beating her child because they failed, does that mean that it is best for the child? No, just because she is doing something doesn't mean that it is the proper thing to do. Just because the Prime Minister is doing something doesn't mean that it is also right. I mean, has anybody even heard of a GOOD thing coming out on this?

Gordon Brown was the first leader to realise the best way to get banks lending to each other was to invest massive sums in them and take part-ownership in return. This approach was first copied by Europe and then America and is seen as being the single best decision that’s been taken to stop the rot. Even Hank Paulson ripped up his own plans to follow Gordon Brown. He was a leader then and he’ll be a leader now. And I bet the same people who criticised him them are criticising him now.

This afternoon as the statement is being released the FTSE is rising in accordance. This clearly indicates global suport and confidence in the present administration's ability to deal with the situation in Great Britain.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson tells Daily Politics the VAT cut is designed to have a "confidence effect", even if the impact on people's finances is not necessarily huge.

To say 'Gordon Brown got us into this mess' is simplistic in the extreme. Does anyone truly believe that this economic crisis - which is threatening America's largest car manufacturers along with giant global financial institutions - is all the fault of the British Prime Minister? It is true that the Labour government must bear some of the responsibility for the UK's particular problems, notably excessive borrowing, by individuals and the state. But while it sounds like an excuse when the government claim that this is a global problem, anyone without a political motive would be unable to deny that fact. This country would be in a similar or worse position if the Conservatives were in power, no matter how often they trot out those tired clichés about 'fixing the roof' and 'tax bombshells'. As for paying for tax cuts later, well, it's quite basic economics that you don't get anything for free. Not even a fiscal stimulus.

People have such short memories. The reason the country is in such a poor state is because Gordon Brown wasted huge sums of money when he was chancellor. He failed to follow the basic maxim of fixing the roof while the sun is shining. As a consequence we’re all suffering terribly and it’s Gordon Brown’s fault. He got us into this mess, if he gets us out of it that will be one thing but don’t expect us to feel grateful for it – especially when we’ll be paying for these tax cuts in years to come.

The country is in a huge mess and to say Gordon Brown is only thinking of his own future does a huge disservice to the man. He has the country’s interests at heart and the country needs the boost to the economy he’s bringing.

The implication of the argument opposite is that while Gordon Brown plays politics with the economic crisis, the motives of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are pure, and they care only about the well-being of the Great British Public. That is quite clearly not the case. Perhaps one would be more inclined to believe it if David Cameron's offers of support for the government in a time of crisis had lasted longer than a couple of days. In any case, the best way for Gordon Brown to secure votes would be to implement successful economic policies that help us through a recession - not a bad idea, surely?

Gordon Brown’s days were numbered before the financial crisis. He’s seen the polls he knows people have warmed to him and he sees getting us out of this mess as the best way to secure another four years in power. What’s going on now is nothing more than shameless electioneering and bribery. He’ll give the economy a short-term boost then call a snap election before things inevitably turn bad again.

We won’t know the effect of these changes for some time so it’s a little too early to say they’ve failed. The cut in VAT whilst small on individual items will amount to a lot in our weekly expenditure. The other changes are bold and innovative and have been specifically designed to target the very areas that need help.

All the ideas he’s suggested are useless. Cuts in VAT wont make any difference to the average consumer and the other tax cuts are too small to do any good. The Government had a chance to do something to stimulate the economy and it has failed. We shall all suffer badly as a result.

The German economy is in just as bad shape it being so dependent upon other countries buying its goods. They’ve had to shore up banks and promise savers every penny they’ve got in the banks will be covered. And anyone who envies the French their economy clearly doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

Gordon Brown used to lord it over our French and German cousins but whose laughing now. Their decision not to hock themselves to an uncertain future has left them in a much better position to cope with the current difficulties. Gordon Brown made fundamental errors when he was chancellor and is making the same mistakes whilst Prime Minister.

Normally this would be the case, but as the economy hangs in the balance people will excuse manifesto pledges made over a decade ago if it means widescale economic disaster is averted.

The new measures will break a Labour pledge not to increase the highest rate of income tax, which has held since Tony Blair came to power in 1997. Breaking manifesto pledges can never win popularity especially when it involves raising taxes.

So what? Rich people are losing money, big whoop. Think of all of the other people living paycheck to paycheck. That doesn't do a single thing for them. So the Rich and Wealthy class lose money and start to come into Middle class, how is that bad exactly? I mean Most people are starting to drop out of school, fail school, etc. because they are so spoiled at home and they get everything. The old ways have been better because they actually taught something and that was discipline.

The move on the top rate of income tax will hit an estimated two per cent of earners and could raise £2bn a year. Some are claiming this bears a resemblance to Denis Healey's 1973 vow to 'squeeze the rich until the pips squeak'.By the time Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979, Labour had raised the top tax rate to 83% on income above £24,000, however since then it has stayed at 40% and people are concerned that this new raise could be the first step back to old ways.

The promise of a multi-billion pound package of support for small business in Monday’s pre-Budget report has failed to raise hopes among embattled business owners, according to a poll by Baker Tilly.

The accountancy firm interviewed 622 executives and found that 48 per cent expected that the government would be forced into at least one public climbdown following Alistair Darling’s speech to parliament.

Some 63 per cent of Baker Tilly’s survey expected the PBR to be tax-raising overall.