Fiddling while Rome burns

Gordon Brown's package of measures to help restore confidence to the housing market and help us deal with higher petrol, food and energy bills is a further indication that he is completely out of touch with the needs of the British people. The Prime Minister has dithered all summer and for what?

He and his hapless Chancellor continue to throw half-baked, ill thought out, and ineffective measures at problems that require decisive, positive action. Real action is needed now on stamp duty (not tinkering at the edges), on excise duty on fuel, and on inheritance tax. How much longer does the country need to suffer this continued failure from the occupants of Downing Street?