This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7630567.stm

The article has changed 30 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Brown prepares for crucial speech Brown prepares for crucial speech
(about 6 hours later)
Gordon Brown is due to seek to reassert his authority over Labour in his keynote speech at the party conference. Gordon Brown will strive to reassert his authority over Labour in his keynote speech at the party conference.
He will unveil a plan to give computer vouchers worth up to £700 to schoolchildren who cannot afford internet access. The prime minister will spell out a vision of "a Britain of fair chances for all and fair rules applied to all".
But the speech could be overshadowed by a remark from David Miliband. He will unveil plans to give up to £700 in computer vouchers to schoolchildren who cannot afford internet access.
The foreign secretary was overheard telling an aide that he wanted to avoid a "Heseltine moment" in his own conference speech. But the speech could be overshadowed by continued speculation about a leadership challenge from Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Mr Miliband's staff told him that his speech was being given six marks out of 10.
He said: "I couldn't have gone any further. It would have been a Heseltine moment."
His aide replied: "No, you are right. You went as far as you could. That was what the party needed to hear."
Mr Miliband was apparently referring to one of the occasions when Michael Heseltine challenged the leadership of Margaret Thatcher.
Unity call
During his speech, Mr Miliband praised Gordon Brown twice, but for past achievements, and spoke of the need for "leadership from the party of change".
Mr Miliband - who has been repeatedly tipped to be preparing a leadership bid - has gone out of his way to call for Labour to unite behind Mr Brown from the conference platform and at fringe meetings, denying that he wanted to see a leadership contest.
In a speech to conference on Monday, he urged the party to be optimistic, saying the Tories were "beatable".
Mr Brown is under pressure to give the speech of his life when he addresses the conference after lunch on Tuesday.Mr Brown is under pressure to give the speech of his life when he addresses the conference after lunch on Tuesday.
He is expected to deliver a bullish, upbeat speech - with little of the confessional tone some were predicting.He is expected to deliver a bullish, upbeat speech - with little of the confessional tone some were predicting.
And he will speak with notes - eschewing the trend for leaders to wander the conference stage reading from autocues.And he will speak with notes - eschewing the trend for leaders to wander the conference stage reading from autocues.
He will admit to mistakes on the abolition of the 10p tax rate but aides say he will be unapologetic about his personality and image. Fairness
He is likely to repeat his claim that he is the best person to lead Britain through troubled economic times. Mr Brown will tell delegates: "In this world of vast economic and social change, new opportunity for all must be matched with a new responsibility from all. Our aim is a something-for-something Britain, nothing-for-nothing Britain."
Policy announcement The theme of fairness will run through the speech, with the prime minister saying no-one should "take more out of the system than they are willing to put in".
Mr Brown will say: "Our policy is that everyone who can work must work, so that the dole is only for those looking for work or actively preparing for it.
"That's only fair to the people pulling their weight."
He will tell the conference that taking action on the causes of crime will never mean indulging criminals, promising higher profile verdicts in court cases and "greater visibility" for those doing community service.
Meanwhile, on immigration he will say: "We recognise the contribution that migrants make to our economy and our society, but the other side of welcoming newcomers who can help Britain is being tough about excluding those who won't and can't.
"That's only fair to the tax-paying public and to the migrants who uphold the rules."
Mr Brown will promise to "create rules that reward those who play by them and punish those who don't.
"That's what fairness means to me."
Need for leadership
In his speech, the prime minister will admit to mistakes on the abolition of the 10p tax rate but aides say he will be unapologetic about his personality and image.
But he is likely to repeat his claim that he is the best person to lead Britain through troubled economic times.
Aides were briefing that he had been delayed in writing his speech by transatlantic phone calls about the implications for British jobs and investment over the restructuring of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.Aides were briefing that he had been delayed in writing his speech by transatlantic phone calls about the implications for British jobs and investment over the restructuring of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
The major policy announcement in the speech is expected to be a £300m plan to offer free computer access to children from low income families to boost their chances in the jobs market.The major policy announcement in the speech is expected to be a £300m plan to offer free computer access to children from low income families to boost their chances in the jobs market.
David Miliband praises Gordon Brown during his address to delegates
Mr Brown is expected to say that 1.4m schoolchildren do not have internet access and are losing out educationally and do not have the necessary skills to get good jobs.Mr Brown is expected to say that 1.4m schoolchildren do not have internet access and are losing out educationally and do not have the necessary skills to get good jobs.
About 90% of vacancies advertised in Job Centre Plus require computer skills. Leadership future
Under the scheme, those from poor backgrounds will be entitled to a voucher worth up to £700 to spend on computer equipment. 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".
Pilots will be carried out in 2010 and 2011 before it is rolled out across the country. 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."
The voucher system - to be administered by local councils - is part of the government's efforts to deal with the remaining unfairness in the UK, aides said. 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.
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.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.
Earlier, former home secretary Charles Clarke, who has called for Mr Brown to improve his performance or quit, was warned by former Labour leader Neil Kinnock to drop his "tragic" campaign, saying it would lead to "appalling division".
Labour backbencher Dr Ian Gibson told the BBC earlier in the week that, while the time was not right for a leadership challenge, everything depended on Tuesday's speech.
"If he doesn't pick it up and get the support of the public, the activists, then it could be curtains for him. I think he knows that and we will have to see by 4pm on Tuesday how it turns out," he said.