Brown's talents

After a serious election defeat, a period of silence from former prime ministers is usually welcome.

It is still right, however, to consider whether the talents of Gordon Brown are best utilised by an endless round of constituency engagements and no attendance in the House of Commons (your report, 17 July). As an MP for a fairly large part of Fife, in the last 27 years he has kept a high profile in the area.

This was true even when his duties as chancellor over a period of ten years gave him a good excuse for absence.

Endless visits to schools and worthy organisations may reinforce the view that he is, at heart, a committed politician with deep roots in the area. The plain fact is that attendance at these events does not involve what arguably he is quite good at; taking a wider perspective and making decisions on quite detailed financial matters.

The idea that he is not a communicator is not accurate. He often communicates with the wrong people in the wrong way in the wrong place. That doesn't mean to say he can't communicate well with those responsible for making key decisions on the world stage.

In time, I'm sure people in Cowdenbeath, Kirkcaldy, Loch-gelly and throughout the area he represents will understand if Brown decides to depart for a role in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank or some other body.

For all his faults, he will still be respected as someone who sought high office to try and improve the lot of people in the communities in which he grew up.

BOB TAYLOR

Shiel Court

Glenrothes, Fife