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PM hails his financial leadership Brown pledges action on economy
(about 2 hours 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 opened Labour's annual conference in Manchester with a pledge to do "whatever it takes" to sort out Britain's financial system.
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 PM hailed the action his government has taken to help stabilise the money markets in the past week.
The prime minister's comments come ahead of the Labour Party conference. But he said he would now push for reforms to the global finance system and vowed to help UK workers at failed bank Lehman Brothers get paid.
His speech to party members on Tuesday will be the first after over a dozen MPs called for a leadership contest. He faces questions about his leadership as the conference gets underway.
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. The gathering is being seen as a crucial five days for Mr Brown, and a chance to prove his authority by seeing off potential leadership rivals.
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.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 an article for 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".
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 SpencerThe 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.
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.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."
But the Work and Pensions Secretary, James Purnell, said he believed the country is still behind the prime minister.But the Work and Pensions Secretary, James Purnell, said he believed the country is still behind the prime minister.
"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."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.
"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."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.
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 interpreted 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 education and on the Conservative leader David Cameron.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.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.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.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
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.