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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brown pledge to 'rethink' policy | Brown pledge to 'rethink' policy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown says "it is time to adapt and rethink New Labour" policy. | |
| In an article for The Monitor, Mr Brown admitted people's chances in life had not improved as he much as he would have liked and pledged to do more. | In an article for The Monitor, Mr Brown admitted people's chances in life had not improved as he much as he would have liked and pledged to do more. |
| He said global and domestic pressures had changed and there was a "need to forge a new kind of government... to rise to conquer these challenges". | |
| The party conference later this month follows weeks of speculation about Mr Brown's performance as prime minister. | The party conference later this month follows weeks of speculation about Mr Brown's performance as prime minister. |
| In the article, Mr Brown said that long-term and short-term pressures had all changed since his party came to power in 1997. | In the article, Mr Brown said that long-term and short-term pressures had all changed since his party came to power in 1997. |
| "And so, the way we govern must change too. That is why in Manchester (where the party conference is) this year it is time to adapt and rethink New Labour policy," he wrote. | |
| Conference speech | Conference speech |
| At a time of "profound change" in the global economy, technological development and population change, Britain was "well placed to withstand the shocks" but the government "must do more" to help seize opportunities, he said. | At a time of "profound change" in the global economy, technological development and population change, Britain was "well placed to withstand the shocks" but the government "must do more" to help seize opportunities, he said. |
| People must be equipped "for the inescapable challenges ahead" through education and training and helping people rise "as far as their talents can take them", he added. | People must be equipped "for the inescapable challenges ahead" through education and training and helping people rise "as far as their talents can take them", he added. |
| While poverty has been reduced and the rise in inequality halted, social mobility has not improved in Britain as we would have wanted Gordon Brown | While poverty has been reduced and the rise in inequality halted, social mobility has not improved in Britain as we would have wanted Gordon Brown |
| "This is not rhetoric. It's about fairness and unfairness. New Labour must now give people more security in their lives by building a Britain of fair chances matched by fair rules. | |
| "I want everyone in this country who works hard and plays by the rules to get their fair chance to benefit." | |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Downing Street had been trying to play down the significance of Mr Brown's comments. | |
| Aides said he was not about to adapt and rethink his own approach, but was instead saying, as he has on other occasions, that the policies of the past must be rethought and adapted to new challenges. | |
| Mr Brown has faced calls to improve his performance, with the party trailing the Conservatives by as much as 20% in the opinion polls. | Mr Brown has faced calls to improve his performance, with the party trailing the Conservatives by as much as 20% in the opinion polls. |
| Ahead of what could be a make-or-break speech to Labour delegates in Manchester later this month he also said he was determined to demonstrate he can provide the leadership needed. | Ahead of what could be a make-or-break speech to Labour delegates in Manchester later this month he also said he was determined to demonstrate he can provide the leadership needed. |
| "What I ask of our country, our government, and our party, cannot be done without leadership. | "What I ask of our country, our government, and our party, cannot be done without leadership. |
| "So, at conference in Manchester and in the weeks that follow, I will set out how I - and our party, and our government, and our country - must rise to conquer those challenges and to ensure fairness for all," he said. | |
| The prime minister acknowledged improvements in social mobility under Labour had not matched expectations and had to be stepped up. | The prime minister acknowledged improvements in social mobility under Labour had not matched expectations and had to be stepped up. |
| "We need to be honest with ourselves: while poverty has been reduced and the rise in inequality halted, social mobility has not improved in Britain as we would have wanted," he said. | "We need to be honest with ourselves: while poverty has been reduced and the rise in inequality halted, social mobility has not improved in Britain as we would have wanted," he said. |
| "Our ambitions for a fairer Britain cannot be satisfied in the face of these injustices." | "Our ambitions for a fairer Britain cannot be satisfied in the face of these injustices." |