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Labour 'faces fight of its life' Brown attacks Tory cuts proposals
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown will rally support at the Welsh Labour conference after Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones warned the party faces the "fight of its life". Gordon Brown has tried to rally support at the Welsh Labour conference ahead of the coming general election by defending his economic record.
The prime minister will address the gathering in Swansea by warning of the impact of a Tory election victory. The prime minister attacked Tory plans to cut spending and said their biggest claim to being the "party of change" was they kept changing their mind.
He will speak after Mr Jones told delegates Labour supporters who want to keep Tories out had lost the "luxury" of staying at home on polling day. He also made a light-hearted reference to recent allegations of bullying.
Mr Jones said Labour supporters "have had it easy for the last 13 years". He joked that the only thing he had not yet been accused of was killing Archie Mitchell in the BBC's EastEnders.
There has been widespread speculation that the election will be on 6 May, but before his speech Mr Brown told the Western Mail that he would not "talk to anybody about the date". Mr Brown told delegates in Swansea that it had been "a very strange old week with accusations flying back and forth".
How they can claim to be the party of change when these policies - defending the Lords, backing fox hunting, inheritance tax cuts - are not exactly new policies but the very policies that have defined the Conservative Party for more than 100 years? Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the Conservative slogan, Vote For Change
To laughter after his comment on the EastEnders murder mystery, he said: "And for the press here, I promise you, I didn't even lay a finger on him".
Mr Brown said: "So it's really nice for Sarah and me to be back with old friends today and of course you know that great definition of a true friend - someone who knows all about you but likes you anyway.
"And I think you do know me. I know that I will always focus on the big questions and I hope you'll know that I will always focus on what matters."
Mr Brown told activists "we can, we must and we will" win the coming general election.
He defended the government's record on spending and focused on Labour's commitment to protect workers.
He accused Conservatives of planning cuts in which the jobs, businesses and homes of thousands of people would be the direct victims.
'Fight of its life'
The prime minister also tried to undermine the Tory election campaign slogan of Vote For Change.
"After their slogan was announced today, I really think we ought to ask them: how they can claim to be the party of change when these policies - defending the Lords, backing fox hunting, inheritance tax cuts - are not exactly new policies but the very policies that have defined the Conservative Party for more than 100 years?"
Mr Brown spoke after Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones warned that the party faces the "fight of its life" in the forthcoming general election.
Mr Jones told delegates Labour supporters who want to keep Tories out had lost the "luxury" of staying at home on polling day.
In 2010 there's only one way to stay Labour - and that's to get out and vote Labour... because this time no-one is going to do it for you First Minister Carwyn JonesIn 2010 there's only one way to stay Labour - and that's to get out and vote Labour... because this time no-one is going to do it for you First Minister Carwyn Jones
In Mr Jones' first speech to a Welsh Labour conference since he replaced Rhodri Morgan as leader last year he paid tribute to his predecessor at the Brangwyn Hall. In Mr Jones' first speech to a Welsh Labour conference since he replaced Rhodri Morgan as leader last year, he paid tribute to his predecessor at the Brangwyn Hall.
He told supporters that in recent years they "could have a Labour government without even having to vote it".He told supporters that in recent years they "could have a Labour government without even having to vote it".
"Well comrades, that's a luxury that Labour supporters just don't have this time."Well comrades, that's a luxury that Labour supporters just don't have this time.
"In 2010 there's only one way to stay Labour - and that's to get out and vote Labour. Because this time no-one is going to do it for you.""In 2010 there's only one way to stay Labour - and that's to get out and vote Labour. Because this time no-one is going to do it for you."
He added: "Let us be under no illusion here today - we are in for the fight of our political lives."He added: "Let us be under no illusion here today - we are in for the fight of our political lives."
'Dogma-driven Tories''Dogma-driven Tories'
Mr Jones attacked the "dogma-driven" Tories' stance on the economy and took a swipe at David Cameron's public school background.Mr Jones attacked the "dogma-driven" Tories' stance on the economy and took a swipe at David Cameron's public school background.
In a nod towards impending constraints on public spending, Mr Jones called for more efficient ways of running public services to avoid cutting jobs.In a nod towards impending constraints on public spending, Mr Jones called for more efficient ways of running public services to avoid cutting jobs.
Mr Jones urged voters not to jeopardise Labour's achievements by letting the Conservatives return to power.Mr Jones urged voters not to jeopardise Labour's achievements by letting the Conservatives return to power.
He told delegates: "We need to enlarge the private sector in Wales, and we need to do it quickly in order to provide more and better jobs for our people.He told delegates: "We need to enlarge the private sector in Wales, and we need to do it quickly in order to provide more and better jobs for our people.
"The trick for Wales in the future is to grow our private sector, to nurture our innate entrepreneurial flair and innovation, to unleash a side of Welshness that has been repressed and understated for far too long.""The trick for Wales in the future is to grow our private sector, to nurture our innate entrepreneurial flair and innovation, to unleash a side of Welshness that has been repressed and understated for far too long."
'Clear choice'
Mr Jones also told delegates of the decision facing voters at the general election.
He said: "The choice is absolutely clear. In the one direction lies an economic future overseen by the most effective and experienced team in the world today under Gordon Brown.
The Welsh Labour leader called on voters not to jeopardise what Labour has achieved in fields such as education and health.
He also set out the principles that have defined Welsh Labour, arguing that they will help shape and drive the party in government to tackle the challenges ahead.
Mr Jones also used his speech to combat what he believes is a myth which has grown up in some sectors that his party is anti-devolutionist.