"I Will Stand Up For British Values" ( Gordon Brown, 24:09:07)

Once upon a time, I knew a woman who was married to a Cheshire tenant farmer. Their kitchen was large and friendly; two labradors lazed in huge baskets by the Aga, three pompous cats strolled in and out. There was often the smell of cakes baking, apples stewing, lamb roasting. The floor gleamed with red quarry tiles and through the latticed bow-fronted windows, I saw green fields, tall stately trees, endless skies. I'd drive over from my edge-of-city home, sit in this cosiness, wallow in its peace and go home soothed, rejuvenated.

Then one day, my friend put up some pictures**. She ranged them along one entire wall, at least ten of them, and the entire character of the warm hospitable kitchen changed . At least it did for me. The prints were incongruous, out of place. I could see their artist's skill, his mastery, but I failed to see their relevance in this colourful farmhouse kitchen.

And THAT'S what's happening in my city. At weekends, its character changes completely; Saturday night in the city is scary, it's threatening. There's shouts and screams and partially dressed girls, there's swaggering young men, people running, women arm-in-arm thronging the street, coarse singing beneath the Eastgate clock, furtive dealings in darkened corners, between Tudor houses, beneath Roman City Walls.

BUT this city is not alone:

OTHER precious, much-loved small cities throughout the land are suffering the same fate. I hear it from friends in the south, the north east, Wales, Scotland. People are hurting because they're watching a sad, steady decline in places they love. We feel scared and we feel powerless.

HOWEVER:

Yesterday in Bournemouth (is B'mouth besieged on a Saturday night ?) Gordon Brown made promises.

He's proud to be British. He says he "stands for a Britain where we expect responsibility at every level of society"

Yesterday he declared: " This is my pledge to the British people: I will not let you down.

I will stand up for a strong Britain. And I will always stand up for you."

Please do, Gordon Brown, please do.

Because it's VITAL you do.

PS: **Hogarth prints ( Gin Lane) Is THAT what will happen??