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September 23 Gordon buys himself some time - and applausePosted by Laura Snook, senior news editor
(Image courtesy of PA)
He did it: Gordon Brown rolled out his vision for Britain to 2,000 Labour MPs and activists in his keynote speech, outlining plans to steer the country through economic turbulence by building a society based on fairness – getting several standing ovations and, some say, facing down his leadership critics in the process.
The prime minister’s 60-minute speech, which he delivered without notes, prompted several standing ovations. Afterwards, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told BBC News that it showed he was a great leader and the leadership question “should have gone away”. Cabinet minister and Brown supporter Ed Miliband said it was “the speech of his life”, “much more conversational” than normal and demonstrating “who he is.” Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock, sitting in the front row, said the party appreciates the danger of division and is “well advised” to support Brown.
Outwith the Labour camp, the Guardian’s Michael White said it was “Not bad. Not bad at all.” Why? Because Brown made an emotional connection with his audience – something critics say he has struggled with in the past. The Times acknowledges he did a good job of tugging the party’s heartstrings, but warns “his fate remains in the hands of other forces.”
The Tories are running a picture of Brown on their website, with the caption: "Sorry seems to be the hardest word". George Osborne says the speech contained no apology and no new ideas. "This was the same old Brown. No apology for the mess he's got the country into, no new ideas that show us how he's going to get out of it, no idea how anything will be paid for."
You’ve raised some interesting points, too. Alan Rees asks if there was any mention of immigration. The answer, Alan, is yes. Here’s what Brown said: “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 adults who won't and can't. That's why we have introduced the Australian-style points-based system, the citizenship test, the English language test, and we will introduce a migrant charge for public services.”
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