AUTHOR Frederick Forsyth referred to Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a "dead man walking" during this evening's edition of BBC Radio 4 show 'Any Questions?'.

Tonight's panel show came from Dr Challoner's High School in Little Chalfont, with Mr Forsyth - author of the bestselling 'Day of the Jackal' - joined by former Chancellor Ken Clarke, Labour MP Angela Eagle and the Lib Dems' David Laws.

The panel fielded questions on immigration, taxes and the housing market, as well as discussing the Prime Minister's position.

Mr Forsyth said: "In American prisons, when somebody on Death Row gets up to go to the toilet, they say, 'There goes a dead man waling'. That's what I think we have here."

His comments were met with a round of applause from the packed school hall.

Responding to a comment that Mr Brown was this week likened to porridge, Treasury minister Angela Eagle MP said: "Porridge is nutritious and a diet of porridge is healthier than a diet of champagne."

Mr Forsyth countered: "Porridge is also thick and comes from Scotland."

In a lively show, much of the debate was centred on a question from audience member Dennis Schofield, who questioned Labour's introduction of the 10p tax band.

Ken Clarke said: "It was a mistake to introduce it at a time when utilities and food bills are going up."

The former Chancellor added: "Consumer taxes disproportionately affect those on low incomes."

Facing a question on whether a housing crash would be a good thing, Mr Clarke said the housing crash of the early 1990s was caused by "cheap credit" and "silly lending".

The most controversial question the panel faced came from Howard Brown, who asked if the government's "lax attitude" to immigration had "damaged the fabric of this country's society".

Ms Eagle said: "We are outward-looking and diverse and I think we need to ask how we can best assimilate and welcome newcomers" - a comment which also drew a round of applause from the audience.

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press after the show, host Jonathan Dimbleby said: "I thought it was a powerful debate on important political issues.

"Without being ill-humoured there was quite a lot of sharp, cutting humour so I enjoyed it. I would have liked listening to it at home."

This evening's session of 'Any Questions?' was organised as part of the Chalfont St Giles and Jordans Literary Festival, which Mr Dimbleby said he would have liked to attend if it weren't for prior engagements.

"I have a book coming out on May 1 so I have got so much promotion and touring to do," he said. "Otherwise I would have come. It looks very impressive."