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'Best man for job' asserts Brown PM hails his financial leadership
(about 3 hours later)
Gordon Brown has repeated that he is the man to steer Britain though the current financial turmoil, as questions continue over his leadership. Gordon Brown has praised the actions his government has taken in the past week of financial turmoil, as questions continue over his leadership.
In an article for the Guardian he said the government had taken "necessary and decisive action this week to keep the financial system moving". In an article for the Guardian, he said the government had taken "necessary and decisive action this week to keep the financial system moving".
The prime minister's comments come ahead of the Labour Party conference.The prime minister's comments come ahead of the Labour Party conference.
On Tuesday Mr Brown will address party members, his first speech to them since some MPs demanded a leadership contest.On Tuesday Mr Brown will address party members, his first speech to them since some MPs demanded a leadership contest.
The conference is being seen as a crucial five days for Mr Brown - a chance to prove his authority and see off potential leadership challengers.The conference is being seen as a crucial five days for Mr Brown - a chance to prove his authority and see off potential leadership challengers.
It got off to a good start on Saturday, with news that Harry Potter author JK Rowling had donated £1m to the Labour Party.It got off to a good start on Saturday, with news that Harry Potter author JK Rowling had donated £1m to the Labour Party.
'Dramatic change''Dramatic change'
In the Guardian, Mr Brown said the past week's financial turbulence provided the "starkest demonstration yet that we are living in an era of dramatic global change".In the Guardian, Mr Brown said the past week's financial turbulence provided the "starkest demonstration yet that we are living in an era of dramatic global change".
[Gordon Brown's] got the responsibility of taking the decisions to protect people in difficult times and that's what he's going to be focusing on Labour's Deputy Leader Harriet Harman[Gordon Brown's] got the responsibility of taking the decisions to protect people in difficult times and that's what he's going to be focusing on Labour's Deputy Leader Harriet Harman
He said the US government now owned much of the US mortgage market and a large part of the world's biggest insurer, and two of Britain's biggest banks and mortgage lenders have had to merge.He said the US government now owned much of the US mortgage market and a large part of the world's biggest insurer, and two of Britain's biggest banks and mortgage lenders have had to merge.
He added: "Just as when we stopped Northern Rock going to the wall...we have acted to secure people's savings, support the housing market and underpin liquidity in the banking sector.He added: "Just as when we stopped Northern Rock going to the wall...we have acted to secure people's savings, support the housing market and underpin liquidity in the banking sector.
"And with our support, the Financial Services Authority has banned short-selling of financial stocks.""And with our support, the Financial Services Authority has banned short-selling of financial stocks."
Continuing criticismContinuing criticism
But criticism of Mr Brown's financial competence has continued, with harsh words from the chairman of Marks and Spencer Sir Stuart Rose.But criticism of Mr Brown's financial competence has continued, with harsh words from the chairman of Marks and Spencer Sir Stuart Rose.
He told the BBC the government should have acted quicker when it became clear last year that Britain was entering a period of sustained economic weakness.He told the BBC the government should have acted quicker when it became clear last year that Britain was entering a period of sustained economic weakness.
Speaking before this week's unprecedented financial upheaval, Sir Stuart said: "The recognition that this was a more deep-seated issue was a bit long in coming."Speaking before this week's unprecedented financial upheaval, Sir Stuart said: "The recognition that this was a more deep-seated issue was a bit long in coming."
"The people in the UK want to feel confident somebody, somewhere knows what the problem is and is dealing with it.""The people in the UK want to feel confident somebody, somewhere knows what the problem is and is dealing with it."
ApologyApology
And one of Mr Brown's own ministers said Mr Brown had "something to apologise for."And one of Mr Brown's own ministers said Mr Brown had "something to apologise for."
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions on Friday, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said the prime minister had to accept some responsibility for the fiancial turmoil because it happened on "his watch". Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions on Friday, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said the prime minister had to accept some responsibility for the financial turmoil because it happened on "his watch".
But he went to qualify his comments, saying the real cause of the global economic slump was "extraordinary speculation and risky lending in the US sub-prime mortgage market".But he went to qualify his comments, saying the real cause of the global economic slump was "extraordinary speculation and risky lending in the US sub-prime mortgage market".
"...we want to find someone to blame because we are in a very bad situation," he said."...we want to find someone to blame because we are in a very bad situation," he said.
"Even if the prime minister had got everything right in the UK the truth is we don't control the waters.""Even if the prime minister had got everything right in the UK the truth is we don't control the waters."
Virtual manifestoVirtual manifesto
The BBC's political correspondent, Vicky Young, says delegates to the Labour Party's conference in Manchester are likely to be told that instead of in-fighting, they should show the people of the UK they care about the same thing - the economy.The BBC's political correspondent, Vicky Young, says delegates to the Labour Party's conference in Manchester are likely to be told that instead of in-fighting, they should show the people of the UK they care about the same thing - the economy.
But the speculation over Mr Brown's future shows no signs of dying down with a newspaper article from Foreign Secretary David Miliband which is being seen by some as a virtual manifesto for the post of Labour Party leader.But the speculation over Mr Brown's future shows no signs of dying down with a newspaper article from Foreign Secretary David Miliband which is being seen by some as a virtual manifesto for the post of Labour Party leader.
HAVE YOUR SAYI remember when conferences made decisions and changed people's minds. That was the sign of a confident partyKathleen Bell, NottinghamSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYI remember when conferences made decisions and changed people's minds. That was the sign of a confident partyKathleen Bell, NottinghamSend us your comments
Across four pages of Saturday's Daily Mirror, Mr Miliband - seen as a front runner for Mr Brown's job - sets out his views on the future, on the Conservative leader David Cameron, and on education.Across four pages of Saturday's Daily Mirror, Mr Miliband - seen as a front runner for Mr Brown's job - sets out his views on the future, on the Conservative leader David Cameron, and on education.
He also talks about his background, his wife, his children and his love of Arsenal football club. But just in case there was any doubt, he said there was no "vacancy" for the top job.He also talks about his background, his wife, his children and his love of Arsenal football club. But just in case there was any doubt, he said there was no "vacancy" for the top job.
United frontUnited front
Health Secretary Alan Johnson, also seen as a potential leadership contender, ruled himself out of a bid for the job and called on the party to get behind Mr Brown.Health Secretary Alan Johnson, also seen as a potential leadership contender, ruled himself out of a bid for the job and called on the party to get behind Mr Brown.
He told the Times the prime minister was the right man to lead the party "at the moment" because of his economic experience, and urged rebels calling for a leadership contest to "shut up".He told the Times the prime minister was the right man to lead the party "at the moment" because of his economic experience, and urged rebels calling for a leadership contest to "shut up".
Labour's Deputy Leader Harriet Harman told BBC News the conference would be focusing on the economy, not the opinion polls.Labour's Deputy Leader Harriet Harman told BBC News the conference would be focusing on the economy, not the opinion polls.
She said the prime minister was a "global player", respected on the world stage for his financial expertise, and he was in a good position to protect Britain from international economic turbulence.She said the prime minister was a "global player", respected on the world stage for his financial expertise, and he was in a good position to protect Britain from international economic turbulence.
When asked what Mr Brown had to do to convince the party he could lead labour to victory in the next general elections, she replied: "... when you're prime minister, it's about what you do.When asked what Mr Brown had to do to convince the party he could lead labour to victory in the next general elections, she replied: "... when you're prime minister, it's about what you do.
"You've got a huge responsibility and Gordon Brown takes that responsibility enormously seriously. He's got the responsibility of taking the decisions to protect people in difficult times and that's what he's going to be focusing on.""You've got a huge responsibility and Gordon Brown takes that responsibility enormously seriously. He's got the responsibility of taking the decisions to protect people in difficult times and that's what he's going to be focusing on."
On Friday, Mr Brown said the rebels would not force him out, saying leaders had to take "the rough with the smooth".On Friday, Mr Brown said the rebels would not force him out, saying leaders had to take "the rough with the smooth".