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We'll change world again - Brown We'll change world again - Brown
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged Labour to "change the world again" as he makes his make-or-break speech to the party's annual conference. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged Labour to "change the world again" as he delivers his make-or-break speech to the party's annual conference.
He said voters at the election, due to be held by next June, would have the "biggest choice for a generation".He said voters at the election, due to be held by next June, would have the "biggest choice for a generation".
He unveiled a string of policies including in what is being seen as a make-or-break Labour conference speech.He unveiled a string of policies including in what is being seen as a make-or-break Labour conference speech.
These included more free childcare for poor families paid for by ending tax breaks for better-off families. These included more free childcare for poor families - and a referendum on electoral reform.
In a repeat of last year, wife Sarah delivered a heartfelt tribute to her husband from the conference stage.In a repeat of last year, wife Sarah delivered a heartfelt tribute to her husband from the conference stage.
She told delegates Mr Brown was "no saint" but they had "been together through some tough times, and some great times, and we will be together forever".She told delegates Mr Brown was "no saint" but they had "been together through some tough times, and some great times, and we will be together forever".
And she added: "I know he loves his country and I know he will always, always put you first."And she added: "I know he loves his country and I know he will always, always put you first."
Tories 'wrong'Tories 'wrong'
Mr Brown set out the differences between Labour and the Conservatives on the economy in an address seen as vital to ending threats to his leadership and lifting party morale. Mr Brown began his speech by telling Labour members they were "the fighters and believers who change the world - we have changed the world before and we are going to do it again".
He said: "Our country confronts the biggest choice for a generation. It's a choice between two parties, yes. But more importantly a choice between two directions for our country." He told delegates he had acted "decisively and immediately" when Britain was "looking over a precipice" as banks teetered on the brink of failure last year, while Conservatives had taken decisions on the economy which were "consistently wrong".
And in a hard-hitting attack on "right wing" ideology, he told delegates: "The Conservative Party were faced with the economic call of the century and called it wrong." "The Conservative Party were faced with the economic call of the century and they called it wrong," he said.
He vowed to protect the "squeezed middle" of low and middle income earners from global market forces. Mr Brown also promised a referendum on electoral reform if Labour wins the general election. Voters will be asked if they want to scrap the First Past the Post system for Westminster elections in favour of Alternative Vote - where voters select candidates in order of preference and the winner most gain more than 50% votes.
"In a crisis what the British people want to know is that their government will not pass them by on the other side but will be on their side," he said. He also announced plans to allow voters to recall MPs guilty of gross financial misconduct who have not already been expelled from the Commons. If more than 25% of voters in their constituency demand a recall there will be a by-election, he told delegates
Before the speech, Downing Street sources said the PM would commit to provide within five years 10 hours of free childcare a week for 250,000 two-year-olds from families "on modest or middle incomes".Before the speech, Downing Street sources said the PM would commit to provide within five years 10 hours of free childcare a week for 250,000 two-year-olds from families "on modest or middle incomes".
We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority Gordon BrownPrime minister Live commentary: PM's speech At-a-glance: Conference dayWe will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority Gordon BrownPrime minister Live commentary: PM's speech At-a-glance: Conference day
The plans would be paid for by scrapping existing tax relief for childcare called the Employer Supported Childcare scheme which can save basic rate taxpayers as much as £962 a year, rising to £1,195 for top rate payers.The plans would be paid for by scrapping existing tax relief for childcare called the Employer Supported Childcare scheme which can save basic rate taxpayers as much as £962 a year, rising to £1,195 for top rate payers.
The sources refused to say how it defined "middle or modest incomes" and claimed the existing scheme benefited richer families too much saying about a third of the total - went to top rate taxpayers.The sources refused to say how it defined "middle or modest incomes" and claimed the existing scheme benefited richer families too much saying about a third of the total - went to top rate taxpayers.
Spirits among the Labour delegate in Brighton will not have been boosted on Tuesday morning with the news that an Ipsos Mori survey suggests the Conservatives are on 36%, Labour on 24% and the Liberal Democrats on 25% - the first time since 1982 that this polling firm has recorded Labour in third place.Spirits among the Labour delegate in Brighton will not have been boosted on Tuesday morning with the news that an Ipsos Mori survey suggests the Conservatives are on 36%, Labour on 24% and the Liberal Democrats on 25% - the first time since 1982 that this polling firm has recorded Labour in third place.
'Lawless minority''Lawless minority'
Mr Brown is continuing the "fight-back" theme of the conference after Business Secretary Lord Mandelson urged the party faithful to be "fighters, not quitters".Mr Brown is continuing the "fight-back" theme of the conference after Business Secretary Lord Mandelson urged the party faithful to be "fighters, not quitters".
On anti-social behaviour the prime minister will tell delegates: "We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority. On anti-social behaviour the prime minister told delegates: "We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority.
"Because the decent, hard working majority are getting evermore angry - rightly so - with the minority who who will talk about their rights but never accept their responsibilities.""Because the decent, hard working majority are getting evermore angry - rightly so - with the minority who who will talk about their rights but never accept their responsibilities."
HAVE YOUR SAYThis new sound-bite is yet a further rehash of old policy brought about by yet more public failingsNick, Amersham Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYThis new sound-bite is yet a further rehash of old policy brought about by yet more public failingsNick, Amersham Send us your comments
As part of a wider package of crime measures, he will announce moves to combat "problem families" he will claim are causing misery in communities with fourfold increase in the use of Family Intervention Projects. As part of a wider package of crime measures, he announced moves to combat "problem families" with an increase in the use of Family Intervention Projects.
These are binding contracts which require parents of children guilty of anti-social behaviour to accept one-to-one support or else lose their benefits.These are binding contracts which require parents of children guilty of anti-social behaviour to accept one-to-one support or else lose their benefits.
He will also pledge to force the courts to issue more Drinking Banning Orders - so-called drink Asbos - against anyone convicted of a crime who was under the influence of alcohol at the time. He also pledged to force the courts to issue more Drinking Banning Orders - so-called drink Asbos - against anyone convicted of a crime who was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
But Conservative leader David Cameron said the government had made it harder for police to tackle anti-social behaviour.But Conservative leader David Cameron said the government had made it harder for police to tackle anti-social behaviour.
"They hardly spend any time on the streets," he said. "They spend all their time at their desks, filling in orders from the Home Office."They hardly spend any time on the streets," he said. "They spend all their time at their desks, filling in orders from the Home Office.
"We've got to get rid of police paperwork, we've got to get them back on the streets and we've got to make them feel empowered to intervene and clear these people off the streets."We've got to get rid of police paperwork, we've got to get them back on the streets and we've got to make them feel empowered to intervene and clear these people off the streets.
"And [we've got to] make them accountable locally so there are consequences if they don't deliver.""And [we've got to] make them accountable locally so there are consequences if they don't deliver."
Mr Brown is also thought to be ready to take part in a series of TV debates with David Cameron not just during the general election campaign but before it, the BBC understands.Mr Brown is also thought to be ready to take part in a series of TV debates with David Cameron not just during the general election campaign but before it, the BBC understands.
If the debates took place they would be the first ever televised prime ministerial debates to be held in Britain.If the debates took place they would be the first ever televised prime ministerial debates to be held in Britain.