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Brown to outline long-term vision Brown outlining long-term vision
(about 2 hours later)
Chancellor Gordon Brown faces the test of his political life when he sets out his stall to be Britain's next prime minister at Labour's conference. Chancellor Gordon Brown is setting out his stall to be Britain's next prime minister at Labour's conference.
Mr Brown will praise Tony Blair in his speech and present himself as the man to take New Labour's programme forward. In the test of his political life, Mr Brown is presenting himself as the man to take New Labour's programme forward.
He will also put devolution of power, from government to citizens and local institutions, at the top of his agenda. He is expected to praise Tony Blair and put devolution of power, from government to citizens and local institutions, at the top of his agenda.
Ahead of his speech Mr Brown said he accepted people also wanted to know more about him as a person.Ahead of his speech Mr Brown said he accepted people also wanted to know more about him as a person.
LABOUR WEEK AHEAD MONDAY: Brown's keynote speech. Also taking to the platform are Alistair Darling and John HuttonTUESDAY: Blair's keynote speech. Also taking to the platform are Margaret Beckett and Ruth Kelly.WEDNESDAY: Alan Johnson, David Miliband, Patricia Hewitt all take to the platform and Bill Clinton is the guest speakerTHURSDAY: John Reid, Peter Hain and John Prescott all take to the stage. Conference: At-a-glanceLABOUR WEEK AHEAD MONDAY: Brown's keynote speech. Also taking to the platform are Alistair Darling and John HuttonTUESDAY: Blair's keynote speech. Also taking to the platform are Margaret Beckett and Ruth Kelly.WEDNESDAY: Alan Johnson, David Miliband, Patricia Hewitt all take to the platform and Bill Clinton is the guest speakerTHURSDAY: John Reid, Peter Hain and John Prescott all take to the stage. Conference: At-a-glance
He told BBC Radio 4's Today: "People have not only a right to know who they're electing, but I've got a duty to explain to people."He told BBC Radio 4's Today: "People have not only a right to know who they're electing, but I've got a duty to explain to people."
Mr Brown, who admits he is an essentially "private" man, said he wanted to address "what I belive in, what I stand for and what has made me the person I am". Mr Brown, who admits he is an essentially "private" man, said he wanted to address "what I believe in, what I stand for and what has made me the person I am".
Amongst the hints of what he might be planning if he became prime minister, Mr Brown will call for NHS management to be hived off to an independent board, in the same way he gave the Bank of England independence. Amongst the hints of what he might be planning if he became prime minister, Mr Brown is calling for NHS management to be hived off to an independent board, in the same way he gave the Bank of England independence.
And he will say his basic view is that "the renewal of New Labour must and will be built upon... a flexible economy, reformed personalised services, public and private sectors not at odds but working together so that we can truly deliver opportunity and security, not just for some, but for all".And he will say his basic view is that "the renewal of New Labour must and will be built upon... a flexible economy, reformed personalised services, public and private sectors not at odds but working together so that we can truly deliver opportunity and security, not just for some, but for all".
'My background''My background'
Mr Brown says he did not have any serious personal doubts about the Iraq war, although he thinks "we could have done things better" after the conflict. Mr Brown is expected to deliver another show of loyalty to Mr Blair, praising his record and spelling out how he has transformed Britain.
He is expected to deliver another show of loyalty to Mr Blair, praising his record and spelling out how he has transformed Britain. The two chatted, smiling, on stage as they waited for Mr Brown to be called to begin his speech at 1210 BST.
But he says he does not expect the prime minister to back his candidacy - or anyone else's - as successor until the leadership election kicks off in earnest. He has already said he does not expect the prime minister to back his candidacy - or anyone else's - as successor until the leadership election kicks off in earnest.
On Sunday, Mr Blair admitted that the last few weeks had been damaging to Labour.On Sunday, Mr Blair admitted that the last few weeks had been damaging to Labour.
He said: "For the first time since I became leader, the Labour Party went AWOL (absent without leave) from the British public, it looked in on itself, it started all the in-fighting and the rest of it."He said: "For the first time since I became leader, the Labour Party went AWOL (absent without leave) from the British public, it looked in on itself, it started all the in-fighting and the rest of it."
MandelsonMandelson
Meanwhile, Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, has expressed regret over his public criticisms of Mr Brown, in a further sign of attempts by Labour to put forward a united front.Meanwhile, Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, has expressed regret over his public criticisms of Mr Brown, in a further sign of attempts by Labour to put forward a united front.
Mr Clarke had accused the chancellor, in a newspaper interview, of "absolutely stupid behaviour" during the row over Mr Blair's leadership.Mr Clarke had accused the chancellor, in a newspaper interview, of "absolutely stupid behaviour" during the row over Mr Blair's leadership.
He said on Sunday: "People behaved, including myself, in ways that were probably not in the best and most advised ways."He said on Sunday: "People behaved, including myself, in ways that were probably not in the best and most advised ways."
Peter Mandelson, the EU commissioner and former Cabinet minister who is one of Mr Blair's closest Labour allies, has also weighed into the leadership debate.Peter Mandelson, the EU commissioner and former Cabinet minister who is one of Mr Blair's closest Labour allies, has also weighed into the leadership debate.
HAVE YOUR SAY Brown or Blair? Same meat, different gravy James Sykes, Bracknell Send us your viewsHAVE YOUR SAY Brown or Blair? Same meat, different gravy James Sykes, Bracknell Send us your views
Mr Mandelson said some union general secretaries and presidents would see the coming of a leadership election - where the unions have a third of the votes - as an opportunity to regain their former role in the party. Mr Mandelson said earlier this month this would be his last annual Labour conference as leader - an announcement which came during a period of in-fighting over his departure date.
"They feel they have been shut out of the party but that was their choice to reject New Labour," he said. You can watch live coverage of Gordon Brown's speech now on the BBC News website.
Mr Blair said earlier this month this would be his last annual Labour conference as leader - an announcement which came during a period of in-fighting over his departure date.
He told BBC One's Sunday AM that the Labour Cabinet had agreed to focus on policy rather than personality and the leadership, during the conference in Manchester.
But despite that, the beginning of conference has been dominated by talk over whether or not there will be a Cabinet-level challenge to Gordon Brown taking over when Mr Blair steps down.
You can watch live coverage of Gordon Brown's speech on the BBC News website from 1200BST/1100GMT.