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PM hails his financial leadership PM hails his financial leadership
(40 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has praised the actions his government has taken in the past week of 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. His speech to party members on Tuesday will be the first after over a dozen MPs called for 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, and a chance to prove his authority by seeing off potential leadership rivals.
It got off to a good start on Saturday, with news that Harry Potter author JK Rowling had donated £1m to the Labour Party. His first challenge will come on Saturday when he faces delegates in Manchester in a question and answer session due to start at 1540BST.
The conference got off to a good start, with the 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 The people in the UK want to feel confident somebody, somewhere knows what the problem is and is dealing with it. Sir Stuart RoseChairman, Marks and Spencer
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. Sir Stuart 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."
Apology But the Work and Pensions Secretary, James Purnell, said he believed the country is still behind the prime minister.
And one of Mr Brown's own ministers said Mr Brown had "something to apologise for." "I've been talking to people in my constituency and they're saying quite clearly, at a time when they're worried about the economy, if they've got a choice between Gordon Brown and David Cameron, about who can manage the economy better, they know whose side they're on.
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". "They're on Gordon Brown's side, because he's got the experience over ten years of being able to run the economy in a way which the Conservatives have never been able to match," Mr Purnell said.
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.
"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 interpreted 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 education and on the Conservative leader David Cameron.
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.
Writing in the Times, the Health Secretary Alan Johnson, who is 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.
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. More support for Mr Brown has come from the former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who has launched a loyalist campaign together with former Downing Street press spokesman Alastair Campbell, MEP Glenys Kinnock and former minister Richard Caborn.
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". They have enlisted twenty Labour MPs, all of whom have sent letters to their parliamentary colleagues, urging them to "stand up and be counted" by joining the campaign.
Labour's Deputy Leader Harriet Harman told BBC News the conference would be focusing on the economy, not the opinion polls. The signatories come from all sides of the party, and include prominent backbencher Jon Cruddas - seen by some as a possible future left-wing candidate for the leadership.
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. The letters warn that internal party divisions will "serve the interests of the Tories" - a message to the dozen Labour MPs who last week asked for nomination papers to be sent out for a leadership contest.
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."
On Friday, Mr Brown said the rebels would not force him out, saying leaders had to take "the rough with the smooth".