Government online consultation receives scant attention

Brown: under fire on site

A pioneering online consultation on Gordon Brown's much trumpeted government relaunch has received only 233 comments since its launch in June, according to Cabinet Office figures.

Building Britain's Future was designed to lay out the government's work on improving the economy and allow the public to make suggestions for the legislative programme in the next session of Parliament.

But the comments are sparse, and where they exist, scathing.

"This is obviously one of Brown's latest lamest attempts at a relaunch, it's therefore a Labour policy document and should not benefit from taxpayer's funds, " said one comment.

"How out of touch can you get? No substance, just more gesture politics and spin!" reads another.

The web site aimed to promote interaction through different channels but only five people responded to the consultation by making a video.

The Cabinet Office said the site cost £9,449 to set up.

The government's e-petitions site, which was designed to allow people to petition the prime minister directly, frequently receives negative comments.

Recent rejected petitions call for the prime minister to "just go now," and "make Borat the next prime minister."

The e-petitions site cost about £27,000 to set up.