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Brown's message for Labour rebels No time for a novice, says Brown
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has said it is Labour's "duty" to focus on the challenges facing the country not the party's internal disagreements. Gordon Brown has put "fairness" at the heart of his vision for Britain in a keynote address to the Labour Party conference in Manchester.
In his keynote speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester, Mr Brown said he wanted to build a new "fair society" for all. He said tough times would not prevent Labour fighting for a "fair society" - and he talked up his own experience, saying: "This is no time for a novice."
And he announced that from next year people with cancer in England will not pay prescription charges. He also pledged to scrap prescription charges for people in England with cancer from next year.
In a surprise move, he was introduced to delegates by wife Sarah. In a surprise move, Mr Brown was introduced to delegates by wife Sarah.
After a lengthy ovation, Mrs Brown praised her husband's motivation to work for the "best interests of the people" before introducing video clips depicting key moments of his premiership. In a more personal address than normal, Mr Brown said he had been "stung" by criticism of his decision to scrap the 10p tax rate and vowed he would never again be accused of not being on the side of "hard working families".
Apology He also took a swipe at politicians who use their families to gain media coverage, saying: "My children aren't props - they're people."
Mr Brown began the speech by apologising for scrapping the 10p tax band. WORD CLOUD This word cloud displays words in proportion to their frequencyThe word count is based on the text as prepared for delivery class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7631925.stm">In full: Brown speech
My children aren't props; they're people Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7629822.stm">Is Brown still under threat? class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7630818.stm">Conference at-a-glance class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5381">Send us your comments The prime minister was under pressure to reassert his authority over the party and bury talk of a leadership challenge.
"What happened with 10p stung me because it really hurt that suddenly people felt I wasn't on the side of people on middle and modest incomes - because on the side of hard working families is the only place I've ever wanted to be. And from now on it's the only place I ever will be." He told Labour rebels it was their "duty" to focus on the challenges facing the country rather than internal party rows.
And in a highly personal passage, he took a swipe at politicians who use their families to gain media coverage, saying: "My children aren't props; they're people." The theme running through the speech was fairness and he pledged to create "a Britain of fair chances for all and fair rules applied to all".
The prime minister is trying to reassert his authority over the party and bury talk of a leadership challenge.
'Fair chances'
He is spelling out a vision of "a Britain of fair chances for all and fair rules applied to all".
He repeated his plan to extend free nursery places for all two-year-olds over the next 10 years - and he pledged to enshrine in law Labour's promise to end child poverty.He repeated his plan to extend free nursery places for all two-year-olds over the next 10 years - and he pledged to enshrine in law Labour's promise to end child poverty.
And he unveiled a £300m plan to offer free computers and internet access for more than a million children from low income families to boost their chances in the jobs market. He highlighted a £300m plan to offer free computers and internet access for more than a million children from low income families to boost their chances in the jobs market.
Sarah Brown introduced her husband before his speech
And he said that in addition to free prescriptions for people with cancer, charges would also be waived for anyone suffering from a long-term illness.And he said that in addition to free prescriptions for people with cancer, charges would also be waived for anyone suffering from a long-term illness.
Mr Brown also hailed Labour's latest crackdowns on benefit cheats and crime.Mr Brown also hailed Labour's latest crackdowns on benefit cheats and crime.
"The dole is only for those looking for work or actively preparing for it. That's only fair to the people pulling their weight."The dole is only for those looking for work or actively preparing for it. That's only fair to the people pulling their weight.
"And let me be clear about the new Labour policy on crime; taking action on the causes of crime will never mean indulging those who perpetrate it. Fairness demands that we both punish and prevent.""And let me be clear about the new Labour policy on crime; taking action on the causes of crime will never mean indulging those who perpetrate it. Fairness demands that we both punish and prevent."
'Tory novices''Tory novices'
He also launched an attack on Conservative shadow chancellor George Osborne, saying he could not be trusted to run the economy. He also launched an attack on the Conservatives, saying they could not be trusted to run the economy.
"I am all in favour of apprenticeships, but let me tell you this is no time for a novice," Mr Brown told delegates to loud applause."I am all in favour of apprenticeships, but let me tell you this is no time for a novice," Mr Brown told delegates to loud applause.
He said the Tories had nothing to offer for the future "because they are still prisoners of the their past". My children aren't props; they're people Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7630818.stm">Conference at-a-glance class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5381">Send us your comments
And he hit back at Tory claims society is "broken," saying: "I think it's the best country in the world - I believe in Britain." The comment was seen as an attack on Tory leader David Cameron - but it was also seen by some pundits as a coded warning to would-be supporters of David Miliband, who has been at the centre of leadership bid speculation.
The speech comes amid continued speculation about a challenge from Foreign Secretary David Miliband. This was denied by ministers Jacqui Smith and Geoff Hoon who both blamed the media for stirring up leadership talk and hailed Mr Brown's speech.
LIVE COVERAGE There will be live text coverage of Gordon Brown's speech, including all the build-up and reaction afterwards, starting from 1300 BST Miliband feared 'Heseltine moment'Read Nick Robinson's blog
During his speech on Monday, Mr Miliband praised Mr Brown twice, but for past achievements, and spoke of the need for "leadership from the party of change".During his speech on Monday, Mr Miliband praised Mr Brown twice, but for past achievements, and spoke of the need for "leadership from the party of change".
Afterwards, when his staff told him that his speech was being given six marks out of 10, Mr Miliband replied: "I couldn't have gone any further. It would have been a Heseltine moment."Afterwards, when his staff told him that his speech was being given six marks out of 10, Mr Miliband replied: "I couldn't have gone any further. It would have been a Heseltine moment."
Mr Miliband, who has gone out of his way to call for Labour to unite behind Mr Brown, was apparently referring to one of the occasions when Michael Heseltine challenged the leadership of Margaret Thatcher.Mr Miliband, who has gone out of his way to call for Labour to unite behind Mr Brown, was apparently referring to one of the occasions when Michael Heseltine challenged the leadership of Margaret Thatcher.
A succession of cabinet ministers and delegates at the conference have called for unity, after a week in which 13 Labour MPs - one of them a minister - called for a leadership contest.A succession of cabinet ministers and delegates at the conference have called for unity, after a week in which 13 Labour MPs - one of them a minister - called for a leadership contest.
Mr Miliband described the BBC story about the overheard conversation as "hearsay" with "absolutely no basis" and he said the BBC "should know better than that".Mr Miliband described the BBC story about the overheard conversation as "hearsay" with "absolutely no basis" and he said the BBC "should know better than that".