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LIVE: Brown's conference speech LIVE: Brown's conference speech
(10 minutes later)
By Victoria KingBy Victoria King
jcevans tweets:Remember the Tories in the 1980s? Britain has moved on....time for new rhetoric. Been the same electioneering since 1992! Read jcevans's tweets.
benjamincohen tweets:Glad Gordon Brown sneaked introducing civil partnerships in there at the beginning- good to reinforce that Read benjamincohen's tweets.
1447 From BBC deputy political editor James Landale: The choice theme continues with some anti-Tory knocking copy. They've been wrong on banks, the economy and Europe, Mr Brown said. A sly dig at David Cameron's past by saying the opposition thinks the test of their party is its marketing, when the real test is its judgement.
1446 There seems to be a huge amount of clapping - almost at the end of every sentence. Much nodding too - from the Cabinet and the Kinnocks as he moves onto the economy - talking about saving jobs, helping homeowners.
1442From BBC deputy political editor James Landale: Well, Mr Brown's come out of the stocks racing. A torrent of a list of Labour's past achievements, bringing delegates to their feet with a call to arms. We need to fight, he said, fight to win for Britain. And then straight into his first theme: choice. I can count almost twenty uses of the word in the first two pages of the speech. His underlying point is that the election should be a choice between Labour and the Tories, not a referendum on his government.
1441 After a dramatic start, a few jokes. The PM says he would like to call Alistair Darling the greatest chancellor ever - but the press would report it as "Brown snubs Brown" - a reference to the alleged cold shoulder he received last week from Barack Obama. Continuing, he says the "special relationship" is just fine - his special relationship with Peter Mandelson, that is.1441 After a dramatic start, a few jokes. The PM says he would like to call Alistair Darling the greatest chancellor ever - but the press would report it as "Brown snubs Brown" - a reference to the alleged cold shoulder he received last week from Barack Obama. Continuing, he says the "special relationship" is just fine - his special relationship with Peter Mandelson, that is.
robsteadman tweets:Good list of stuff all achieved under Blair..... Read robsteadman's tweets.robsteadman tweets:Good list of stuff all achieved under Blair..... Read robsteadman's tweets.
ephemeraldog tweets:All this furore about Gordon Brown's speech will no doubt lead to disappointment. Closing headlines will be about his vision 'lacking depth' Read ephemeraldog's tweets.ephemeraldog tweets:All this furore about Gordon Brown's speech will no doubt lead to disappointment. Closing headlines will be about his vision 'lacking depth' Read ephemeraldog's tweets.
1438 Mr Brown runs through a long list of Labour achievements - and has them on their feet already. Is this the earliest ever standing ovation? It's clear already that two words are going to feature heavily - "change" and "fight".1438 Mr Brown runs through a long list of Labour achievements - and has them on their feet already. Is this the earliest ever standing ovation? It's clear already that two words are going to feature heavily - "change" and "fight".
1435 She introduces another video - lots of young faces praise Labour. So do some famous faces - U2 frontman Bono says his achievements on development are "staggering", Nelson Mandela is also a fan. And then Gordon Brown arrives to take the stage. He starts with a pledge to fight and change the world.1435 She introduces another video - lots of young faces praise Labour. So do some famous faces - U2 frontman Bono says his achievements on development are "staggering", Nelson Mandela is also a fan. And then Gordon Brown arrives to take the stage. He starts with a pledge to fight and change the world.
1434From BBC deputy political editor James Landale: The return of Sarah Brown. She introduced her husband last year and she's done so again. He's not a saint, he's noisy, he's messy, she said. But he loves his country and he's the right man for the job. He goes to bed and wakes up thinking about what matters. Mrs Brown is on message, saying Gordon is making - and will make - the right choices. The aim is to humanise the prime minister, using Mrs Brown's undoubted appeal to middle England. Critics might think it a little schmaltzy, a little sentimental.1434From BBC deputy political editor James Landale: The return of Sarah Brown. She introduced her husband last year and she's done so again. He's not a saint, he's noisy, he's messy, she said. But he loves his country and he's the right man for the job. He goes to bed and wakes up thinking about what matters. Mrs Brown is on message, saying Gordon is making - and will make - the right choices. The aim is to humanise the prime minister, using Mrs Brown's undoubted appeal to middle England. Critics might think it a little schmaltzy, a little sentimental.
1431 Mrs Brown says she and Gordon have had tough times, great times and will be together all times. She says he's not "a saint" - "he's messy, he's noisy..." But she says he spends all this time thinking about the things that matter - "I know he loves our country".1431 Mrs Brown says she and Gordon have had tough times, great times and will be together all times. She says he's not "a saint" - "he's messy, he's noisy..." But she says he spends all this time thinking about the things that matter - "I know he loves our country".
BBCLauraK tweets:So she's doing it again - Sarah Brown the warm up act for the PM Read BBCLauraK's tweets.BBCLauraK tweets:So she's doing it again - Sarah Brown the warm up act for the PM Read BBCLauraK's tweets.
1426The first surprise - or maybe not so surprising giving her positive reception last year. Sarah Brown is back - taking the stage before her husband. Lots of cheering all round.1426The first surprise - or maybe not so surprising giving her positive reception last year. Sarah Brown is back - taking the stage before her husband. Lots of cheering all round.
BBCLauraK tweets:Brown,Sarah and entourage just swept past our camera at great speed-expected to announce recall elections for MP s who fiddle their expenses Read BBCLauraK's tweets.BBCLauraK tweets:Brown,Sarah and entourage just swept past our camera at great speed-expected to announce recall elections for MP s who fiddle their expenses Read BBCLauraK's tweets.
1426 The pre-speech video is playing, inspirational phrases a-plenty. The cheers are coming thick and fast too.1426 The pre-speech video is playing, inspirational phrases a-plenty. The cheers are coming thick and fast too.
1420 The auditorium is packed. Cabinet members past and present are ready. There are some more unlikely faces too - comedian Eddie Izzard is chatting to Neil Kinnock. Meanwhile, the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg says she's got word that a big chunk of the speech is going to focus on building a "new politics" post-expenses row with tougher measures to punish MPs who break the rules.1420 The auditorium is packed. Cabinet members past and present are ready. There are some more unlikely faces too - comedian Eddie Izzard is chatting to Neil Kinnock. Meanwhile, the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg says she's got word that a big chunk of the speech is going to focus on building a "new politics" post-expenses row with tougher measures to punish MPs who break the rules.
1417 Former home secretary David Blunkett tells the BBC's Jon Sopel what it's like to give a big speech like this. "It's terrible," he says. "It changes the nature of who you are in the days before the speech." Some might want to change Gordon Brown's nature - he will be hoping to change their minds.1417 Former home secretary David Blunkett tells the BBC's Jon Sopel what it's like to give a big speech like this. "It's terrible," he says. "It changes the nature of who you are in the days before the speech." Some might want to change Gordon Brown's nature - he will be hoping to change their minds.
1416 The television cameras follow Gordon Brown as he walks to the conference hall, accompanied by wife Sarah. She's wearing a floral dress in autumnal colours - he's wearing a big grin. The route is lined with delegates and the PM takes time to shake as many hands as possible before making his way inside.1416 The television cameras follow Gordon Brown as he walks to the conference hall, accompanied by wife Sarah. She's wearing a floral dress in autumnal colours - he's wearing a big grin. The route is lined with delegates and the PM takes time to shake as many hands as possible before making his way inside.
1412 Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of Gordon Brown's keynote conference speech. Well, the hall is packed, there's a buzz in the air and everyone is waiting for the man himself. Can he give, as everyone seem to think he must, the speech of his life?1412 Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of Gordon Brown's keynote conference speech. Well, the hall is packed, there's a buzz in the air and everyone is waiting for the man himself. Can he give, as everyone seem to think he must, the speech of his life?