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Brown sets out leadership vision Brown sets out leadership vision
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has made his pitch to the Labour Party conference in Manchester to be Britain's next prime minister.Gordon Brown has made his pitch to the Labour Party conference in Manchester to be Britain's next prime minister.
Mr Brown said he had the experience and right values for the job - and said he would relish the chance to take on David Cameron's Conservatives.Mr Brown said he had the experience and right values for the job - and said he would relish the chance to take on David Cameron's Conservatives.
In the test of his political life, Mr Brown paid tribute to Tony Blair but admitted they had differed at times.In the test of his political life, Mr Brown paid tribute to Tony Blair but admitted they had differed at times.
"Where... differences have distracted from what matters I regret that, as I know Tony does too," Mr Brown added. "Where differences have distracted from what matters I regret that, as I know Tony does too," said Mr Brown.
Personal story Mr Brown said he accepted people want to know more about him as a person.
Mr Brown says he accepts people want to know more about him as a person. HAVE YOUR SAY We need a leadership battle now so people can decide whether Gordon Brown really is the best choice Martin, Edinburgh, UK href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3974&start=0&edition=1&ttl=20060924101152" class="">Send us your views
He used his speech to tell more about how his upbringing in Scotland had forged his view about ensuring all talent is fulfilled. He used his speech to talk about how his upbringing in Scotland had forged his view that all talent must be fulfilled.
HAVE YOUR SAY Brown or Blair? Same meat, different gravy James Sykes, Bracknell Send us your views
"I believe then and I believe now that at all times the Labour Party must stand for more than a programme: we must have a soul," he said."I believe then and I believe now that at all times the Labour Party must stand for more than a programme: we must have a soul," he said.
Mr Brown said he was quite a private person and was drawn into public life not in search of fame but because he was determined to make a difference. Mr Brown said he was quite a private person, drawn into public life not in search of fame or celebrity but because he wanted to make a difference.
Confident
"I know where I come from, what I believe and what I believe and what I can contribute," he said."I know where I come from, what I believe and what I believe and what I can contribute," he said.
LEADERSHIP WATCH Length: 37mins, 37 secs Standing ovation: 2 mins 45 secs Applause: 41 bursts during speechJoke: "I'm more interested in the future of the Arctic circle than the future of the Arctic MonkeysReaction: Gerald Kaufman MP: "That was the longest job application in history, but I don't mind."BBC's Nick Assinder's verdict: "He made his most upfront pitch for the job of prime minister yet and got a warm response in the hall."
"And I am confident that my experience and my values gives me the strength to take the tough decisions."And I am confident that my experience and my values gives me the strength to take the tough decisions.
"I would relish the opportunity to take on David Cameron and the Conservative Party.""I would relish the opportunity to take on David Cameron and the Conservative Party."
War decision call Mr Brown, who has faced claims he is not a team player, named a series of Cabinet ministers.
His speech has gone way beyond his Treasury brief, covering the fight against terrorism, education, public service reforms and protecting the environment. And he tackled concerns about how his Scottish roots with play with English voters as he spoke about the importance of a sense of Britishness in meeting the challenge of globalisation.
"When I'm in England some people say I talk about Britishness because I'm now embarrassed about being Scottish," he said.
"Let me say I am proud to be Scottish and British."
There was no doubting the purpose of his speech, which went way beyond his Treasury brief, covering the fight against terrorism, education, public service reforms and protecting the environment.
'New politics'
On foreign policy, he said Parliament must in future make have the final say on sending British troops to war, except in emergencies.On foreign policy, he said Parliament must in future make have the final say on sending British troops to war, except in emergencies.
And he hinted he was open to the idea of a written constitution.And he hinted he was open to the idea of a written constitution.
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-glance
The chancellor said he wanted a "new politics" founded on responsibilities as well as rights.The chancellor said he wanted a "new politics" founded on responsibilities as well as rights.
He put devolution of power, from government to citizens and local institutions, at the top of his agenda.He put devolution of power, from government to citizens and local institutions, at the top of his agenda.
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. href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5376562.stm" class="">Conference: At-a-glance And despite trade union concerns about NHS reforms, Mr Brown said modernisation had to continue to ensure services met the public's rising aspirations.
Earlier, Mr Brown 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." "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," he said.
And he said 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".
'Policy first'
Mr Brown 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.
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."
You can watch live coverage of Gordon Brown's speech now on the BBC News website.