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'I do not roll over,' says Brown 'I do not roll over,' says Brown
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has hit back at claims by Chancellor Alistair Darling that Labour has "lost the will to live".Gordon Brown has hit back at claims by Chancellor Alistair Darling that Labour has "lost the will to live".
The prime minister defended his leadership and vowed to "fight for the future", telling BBC One's Andrew Marr programme: "I do not roll over."The prime minister defended his leadership and vowed to "fight for the future", telling BBC One's Andrew Marr programme: "I do not roll over."
He also said laws to "ban" old-style bank bonuses and punish banks who still pay them will be produced shortly.He also said laws to "ban" old-style bank bonuses and punish banks who still pay them will be produced shortly.
And he denied rumours about his health and insisted his eyesight is not "deteriorating".And he denied rumours about his health and insisted his eyesight is not "deteriorating".
Speaking as Labour Party members gather in Brighton for its annual conference, Mr Brown said the country was emerging from the recession because of the actions the government had taken but he now had to "prove we are fighting for the future as well".Speaking as Labour Party members gather in Brighton for its annual conference, Mr Brown said the country was emerging from the recession because of the actions the government had taken but he now had to "prove we are fighting for the future as well".
He said he would use his conference speech to set out how he would deal with "the whole future of our economy and the whole future of our society".He said he would use his conference speech to set out how he would deal with "the whole future of our economy and the whole future of our society".
Bankers' bonusesBankers' bonuses
Asked if the party had "lost the will to live", as Mr Darling has claimed, he said: "Not at all," adding: "A setback can either be a challenge that means it's an opportunity to do something better or you roll over. I do not roll over.Asked if the party had "lost the will to live", as Mr Darling has claimed, he said: "Not at all," adding: "A setback can either be a challenge that means it's an opportunity to do something better or you roll over. I do not roll over.
Enough is enough. I am not going to stand by and allow people to return to... the bad old days Gordon Brown on bankers' bonuses Brown to 'ban old bonus system' Robert Peston: Brown and BonusesEnough is enough. I am not going to stand by and allow people to return to... the bad old days Gordon Brown on bankers' bonuses Brown to 'ban old bonus system' Robert Peston: Brown and Bonuses
"The setback for me is the challenge, the opportunity, to learn of course if you make mistakes and to do things better.""The setback for me is the challenge, the opportunity, to learn of course if you make mistakes and to do things better."
On bankers' bonuses, he promised legislation in the forthcoming Queen's Speech to "ban" the existing system.On bankers' bonuses, he promised legislation in the forthcoming Queen's Speech to "ban" the existing system.
"Enough is enough. I am not going to stand by and allow people to return to... the bad old days," the prime minister said."Enough is enough. I am not going to stand by and allow people to return to... the bad old days," the prime minister said.
"Just as we will have a Fiscal Responsibility Act to deal with public finances, we will come back and we will have a new Business and Financial Services Act as well that will ban the old bonus systems and make it impossible for firms to go back to using them.""Just as we will have a Fiscal Responsibility Act to deal with public finances, we will come back and we will have a new Business and Financial Services Act as well that will ban the old bonus systems and make it impossible for firms to go back to using them."
He was also asked, for the first time in a television interview, about Westminster rumours he might use concerns about his health as a reason for stepping down as prime minister ahead of a general election.He was also asked, for the first time in a television interview, about Westminster rumours he might use concerns about his health as a reason for stepping down as prime minister ahead of a general election.
Health questionsHealth questions
Mr Marr told Mr Brown he wanted to ask about "something everybody has been talking about in the Westminster village... A lot of people in this country use prescription painkillers and pills to help them get through. Are you one of them?"Mr Marr told Mr Brown he wanted to ask about "something everybody has been talking about in the Westminster village... A lot of people in this country use prescription painkillers and pills to help them get through. Are you one of them?"
The prime minister replied: "No. I think this is the sort of questioning which is all too often entering the lexicon of British politics."The prime minister replied: "No. I think this is the sort of questioning which is all too often entering the lexicon of British politics."
It's either yes or no - you either want to have a television debate or you don't want a television debate David Cameron, Conservative leaderIt's either yes or no - you either want to have a television debate or you don't want a television debate David Cameron, Conservative leader
He also denied his sight is deteriorating - something he was asked about last week on US television.He also denied his sight is deteriorating - something he was asked about last week on US television.
The prime minister lost the sight in one eye following a teenage rugby accident and suffers reduced vision in the other eye - but he said he had recently undergone an annual check-up which showed no deterioration in the vision of his good eye.The prime minister lost the sight in one eye following a teenage rugby accident and suffers reduced vision in the other eye - but he said he had recently undergone an annual check-up which showed no deterioration in the vision of his good eye.
When Andrew Marr asked again about the issue of painkiller use, the prime minister said: "I've already answered that question."When Andrew Marr asked again about the issue of painkiller use, the prime minister said: "I've already answered that question."
Poll findingsPoll findings
In an interview in The Observer, Mr Darling accuses Labour - from the prime minister and himself down - of appearing to concede the advantage to the Conservatives without a fight. In an interview in the Observer, Mr Darling accuses Labour - from the prime minister and himself down - of appearing to concede the advantage to the Conservatives without a fight.
"From the prime minister, the chancellor, every government minister. It is all our responsibilities," he says."From the prime minister, the chancellor, every government minister. It is all our responsibilities," he says.
Likening the party to a losing football side who have allowed their heads to drop well before the final whistle, he says: "We don't look as if we have got fire in our bellies."Likening the party to a losing football side who have allowed their heads to drop well before the final whistle, he says: "We don't look as if we have got fire in our bellies."
It comes as an ICM poll for the News of the World finds more than half of those surveyed still think Gordon Brown could win the next election.It comes as an ICM poll for the News of the World finds more than half of those surveyed still think Gordon Brown could win the next election.
Some 11% of the 1,003 adults say Labour has a good chance of winning with Mr Brown and 48% say it has a slim chance. But 41% think it probably or definitely has no chance, the poll finds.Some 11% of the 1,003 adults say Labour has a good chance of winning with Mr Brown and 48% say it has a slim chance. But 41% think it probably or definitely has no chance, the poll finds.
Conservative leader David Cameron, meanwhile, has repeated his call for a televised debate at the election, urging Mr Brown to "get off the fence".Conservative leader David Cameron, meanwhile, has repeated his call for a televised debate at the election, urging Mr Brown to "get off the fence".
He told Sky News: "It's either yes or no - you either want to have a television debate or you don't want a television debate.He told Sky News: "It's either yes or no - you either want to have a television debate or you don't want a television debate.
"I do want one. I think it would be good for our democracy, good for our politics and good for the general election, so I hope Gordon Brown will this week make a decision on this.""I do want one. I think it would be good for our democracy, good for our politics and good for the general election, so I hope Gordon Brown will this week make a decision on this."