Even accepting that Thursday's Henley by-election was an unwinnable seat for Labour at the best of times, to come fifth in the by-election, to lose its deposit and to be beaten by the British National Party must represent the last word in humiliation.

This was the Prime Minister's bitter birthday present on the first anniversary of his arrival at 10, Downing Street.

And to make matters even worse for him, this by-election disaster coincided with a new opinion poll showing the Tories leading Labour by 18 points – 46-28, a finding which would give the Conservatives a huge majority in the House of Commons.

It is now becoming increasingly difficult for Labour to trot out the usual arguments about opinion poll findings – namely that what really matters are not these findings but the actual votes cast at the polling stations.

Well, Labour have now suffered at the hands of both on the same day. Even the most devious and skilled spin doctor would have difficulty in explaining this away.

It is now looking more and more likely that Mr Brown will follow the example of John Major in 1997 – and go right to the wire before holding a general election.

This means nearly two years before he is compelled to go the country, and time enough, he would hope, to restore Labour as an effective political fighting force again.

But it is a prospect as daunting as the North Face of the Eiger, especially as some Labour back-benchers are coming close to expressing public criticism of his leadership.

However the mechanics of removing a Labour Party leader are complicated and formidable and the prospect of a leadership election, with all the in-fighting and internal bitterness that would generate, is scarcely an attractive proposition.

The heavens have certainly opened up and rained with a vengeance on Gordon Brown's birthday party.


Education
WEARSIDE headteacher Alan Thomas said he believes Gordon Brown is committed to education and providing the best for children across the country.

Mr Thomas, headteacher at Hetton Lyons Primary School, said vast sums of money are being ploughed into education by the Government, including the cash to build a new £6million school for his staff and pupils, which will open later this year.

He said: "I do think Mr Brown is a person of conviction, is extremely hard working and wants the best for all the children.

"However, I believe there are too many initiatives which headteachers and teachers are having to take on these days."

Mr Thomas said he thinks Mr Brown, like Tony Blair before him, doesn't know as much as he thinks he does about what it is really like in schools.
Marks out of 10: Seven

NHS
Monkwearmouth GP Dr Gerry McBride said the relationship between health workers and the Labour Party had worsened since their initial victory in 1997.

He said: "In its initial tenure this Government was supportive of health professionals in trying to improve health care.

"There was a genuine collaboration which greatly improved the range of services available to the public.

"The Government's own analysis showed that those achievements were well above their expectations.

"It beggars belief that this Government now consistently attacks and undermines the profession - the relationship has now deteriorated to an appalling level. Mr Brown must take full responsibility."
Marks out of 10: Not willing to give a score

Law and Order
Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate said: "I think he has a lot of work to do," he said. "There is understandably a lot of concern about the economic condition of the country and going into the job he had a very strong reputation in that area.

"However, a lot of this now depends on the situation in other countries around the world and their economic strength.

"But probably my biggest concern is the sense of indecision and mind-changing that surrounds him. It really shows what a good act he had to follow in Tony Blair."

But the retired Chief Superintendent of Durham Constabulary and ex-president of the Police Superintendents' Association said he was impressed by Mr Brown's stand on terror: "He has quite impressed me in that regard.

"I think he needs to stick to his guns and what he really believes in."
Marks out of 10: Five

Business
Mick Thurlbeck, chairman of the Sunderland committee of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "Much of my knowledge of Gordon Brown's performance as a leader is gained through the media.

"Taking this into account it cannot go unnoticed that he is failing fast if the 'experts' are to be believed. The economic crisis is a direct result of his mis-management of the country's purse and the sale of our gold reserves was an absolute shocker.

"There are many policies which he seems to duck as he tries to have us believe his hapless excuses. Loss of public data, failure to punish crime correctly, MPs' expenses and the ridiculous abidance to political correctness are typical examples of how not to manage a country. If he were in business he would have been sacked a long time ago through pressure from shareholders."
Marks out of 10: Four