Brown tries to rally the troops

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By David Thompson Political correspondent, BBC News Mr Brown warned against a Tory government "in 24 months"

After a terrible night for Labour, the action moved from the east end of Glasgow to the Midlands.

For Gordon Brown, the march back from the debacle of Glasgow East started at Warwick University and his party's National Policy Forum.

It was a chance to rally the troops and for the troops, well, a chance to rally behind their leader...or not.

Speaking without notes or a lectern, as seems to be the fashion these days, the prime minister made only fleeting reference to that humiliating defeat, praising the Labour candidate, Margaret Curran, and thanking her for her valiant efforts on his behalf.

But that was it. The elephant in the room was given a curt nod and then pointedly ignored.

'Pursuing the future'

Mr Brown went through the challenges facing the party: the world economic downturn; the pressure on oil prices from increasing demand; the rising cost of living which is hitting some Britons hard.

He talked about how to tackle those problems - the need to reduce dependence on oil by embracing alternative sources of energy, which in turn could create a million "green-collar" jobs.

The prime minister said his government would provide more training, more education, increased learning opportunities - what he described as a life-cycle of opportunity.

Public services, especially health, would become more personalised.

He said there was no need to go back to the agenda of the 70s and 80s - that the only agenda worth pursuing was the future.

If Labour forgot that, the danger would be that in 24 months time (bit of a clue that, if Gordon Brown has anything to do with it, our next election will be held at the last possible moment) Britain would wake up to a Tory government.

Nervous MPs

He even invoked Nelson Mandela as a role model to wavering Labour supporters. All of which was fine, if perhaps a little familiar.

Question is, will it be enough to reassure nervous Labour MPs who will look at Glasgow East, look at their own majorities and wonder if Gordon Brown is the man who can turn things round, lead Labour to an improbable fourth election victory and keep their bottoms on the green leather benches of the House of Commons.

What MPs, ministers and delegates are meant to be discussing at Warwick this weekend is the future manifesto for the party.

That will happen - but in corners, over coffee and by text messages sent from mobile phones set to silent, the other topic of conversation will be Gordon - both what he needs to do to turn things round - and what the party needs to do about him.