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PM lists policies amid poll fever Brown refuses to end poll fever
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown is expected to outline policies on crime, health and education when he delivers his first speech as leader to the Labour party conference. Gordon Brown has again refused to rule out calling an early general election.
The prime minister is set to ignore mounting speculation that he will call a general election this year. In a series of media interviews at the start of his first Labour conference as leader Mr Brown declined the chance to end the speculation over a snap poll.
Instead, he will use his speech to back the use of stop and search powers in areas hit by gun crime and unveil plans to cut cancer treatment waiting times. Instead he said he was "getting on with the job" of implementing Labour's manifesto from 2005, adding: "Do I need to call an election to do so? No."
Meanwhile, a poll in the Sun has put the Tories eight points behind Labour. In his first leader's speech to the Labour conference he is expected to talk about crime, health and education.
The Ipsos-Mori poll of 1,009 adults put Labour on 42%; its lead increased from 5% in a similar poll a month ago. Licensing laws
The poll, carried out by Ipsos-Mori on September 20-22 found 34% of those questioned favoured the Conservatives, with 14% for the Lib Dems. He said he would be concentrating on improving the National Health Service, "responding to the aspirations of the British people", world class schools and creating more jobs in the future.
Addressing a party hoping to seal a fourth general election victory, Mr Brown will not end election fever by naming the day, or ruling anything out. He also said public services had to be more personalised, saying people needed to be treated "not as a number, but with respect".
Law and order I think, over the summer, when we've been tested on terrorism, when we've been tested with floods...I've tried to show that we are equal to every challenge that arises Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7009707.stm">At-a-glance: Conference
Instead, he will focus on a series of announcements which will form the backbone of his future programme leading towards the campaign, whenever it comes. Mr Brown who became prime minister by succeeding Tony Blair as Labour leader, told the BBC he was focusing on policies and said snap election talk was just "inner speculation" by a small group of people "who are interested in politics".
He told BBC Breakfast: "My focus is the job and I think what people want to hear about this week is what we offer the country, what we offer for the future and what we offer that's new policy and I think anything that diverts from that is something that is not fair to the British people." He said his policy plans included reviewing some past Labour ones - like those on cannabis and 24-hour licensing - if he felt they needed reform.
I think anybody who knows that a few people with guns can disrupt a whole area will want the police to use these powers Gordon Brown On binge drinking, particularly among teenagers, he said it was important not to send out the wrong message.
On law and order, police are to be encouraged to use stop-and-search powers in areas affected by gun and knife crime. Stop and search
He will use his speech to back the use of stop and search powers in areas hit by gun crime.
Senior officers in ten existing street crime hotspots will be able to sweep areas in a bid to crack down on violent crime.Senior officers in ten existing street crime hotspots will be able to sweep areas in a bid to crack down on violent crime.
Mr Brown told the programme: "I think anybody who knows that a few people with guns can disrupt a whole area will want the police to use these powers." To set ambitious long-term goals and then stay the course to meet the challenges of the decade ahead Gordon Brown
Labour conference will mark end of Blair era Mr Brown told the BBC: "I think anybody who knows that a few people with guns can disrupt a whole area will want the police to use these powers."
The move, which Mr Brown recognises may be controversial and revive memories of the old "sus" laws, will be part of a package of measures under the slogan "punish and prevent" which will also include plans to cut police paper work.The move, which Mr Brown recognises may be controversial and revive memories of the old "sus" laws, will be part of a package of measures under the slogan "punish and prevent" which will also include plans to cut police paper work.
On health, the prime minister will unveil his plans to cut cancer waiting and screening times and to increase the numbers of matrons.On health, the prime minister will unveil his plans to cut cancer waiting and screening times and to increase the numbers of matrons.
He will also announce a deep-clean of hospitals over Christmas and the New Year in the fight against the MRSA bug He will also confirm plans for a deep-clean of hospitals over Christmas and the New Year in the fight against the MRSA bug, increasing opportunity in education, and lifting families out of poverty.
"Everybody has a right to expect, when you go into hospital, you are not just treated as a person and not a number, but it is going to be clean, it is going to be safe, it is going to be secure," he told Breakfast. Opinion polls
"I want to reassure people that we are taking every step possible to do it." He will tell the Bournemouth conference that, while great advances were made under Tony Blair, change is required to meet new challenges.
He will talk about removing barriers - to work and university education, for example - to increase opportunity, particularly for the poorest.
He will place an emphasis on helping children and families, to lift them out of poverty.
Once again, Mr Brown will spell out his commitment to the Labour Party which is rooted in his own background.
He will tell the Bournemouth conference he is getting on with the job in hand and will say that, while great advances were made under Tony Blair, change is required to meet those new challenges.
Election footing
He is expected to echo the words he used in a letter to the party's ruling executive, that called on the conference "to set ambitious long-term goals and then stay the course to meet the challenges of the decade ahead".He is expected to echo the words he used in a letter to the party's ruling executive, that called on the conference "to set ambitious long-term goals and then stay the course to meet the challenges of the decade ahead".
"But these changes are just the start. I know that we must go much further, be bolder and more confident if we are to unleash the talents of all and make Britain the place it can be. HAVE YOUR SAY The UK should adopt fixed terms for general elections Pete, Worthing class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7467&edition=1">Send us your comments
"To do this we need to look forward to the new challenges of the future that will influence the lives of families and communities up and down the country," he said. Much of the speculation about an early poll - Mr Brown can wait until May 2010 if he wants before holding an election - has been prompted by recent opinion polls giving Labour a lead.
The prime minister is certain to receive a hero's welcome from delegates in Bournemouth many of whom see the event as marking the end of the Blair decade and the beginning of a new, revitalised administration. And on the first day of the Bournemouth conference a poll in the Sun suggests the Tories are eight points behind Labour.
Many believe that Mr Brown needs time to set out his distinctive manifesto before he goes to the country and, as a result, should not rush into an early election. The Ipsos-Mori poll of 1,009 adults put Labour on 42%; its lead increased from 5% in a similar poll a month ago.
But election fever has gripped this conference, with party opinion divided on whether he should go now or wait. The poll, carried out by Ipsos-Mori on September 20-22, suggested 34% of those questioned favoured the Conservatives, with 14% for the Lib Dems.
Party bosses are undoubtedly enjoying keeping their opponents guessing but, whatever Mr Brown's intentions, few doubt this speech will, in effect, put the party on an election footing.