Brown pledges to defeat tough times and critics
The key points of the Prime Minister's conference speech
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Your support makes all the difference.Gordon Brown squarely confronted his Labour critics and turned his fire on the Conservatives in a highly personal speech designed to prove that he remains the best man to lead Britain up to the next general election.
He openly admitted his mistakes, but bluntly told the Labour faithful that there was no one else qualified to see the country through the global economic turmoil.
In words that appeared directed both at plotters backing David Miliband and the Conservative leader David Cameron, he declared: "I'm all in favour of apprenticeships but let me tell you – this is no time for a novice."
Leadership
In an hour-long speech Mr Brown defended both his record and his style of leadership, rejecting claims that he has failed to connect with the voters.
He joked: "I didn't come into politics to be a celebrity or thinking I'd always be popular. Perhaps that's just as well."
The Prime Minister insisted: "I'm not going to try to be something I'm not. And if people say I'm too serious, quite honestly there's a lot to be serious about. I'm serious about doing a serious job for all the people of this country."
"Where I've made mistakes I'll put my hand up and try to put them right. So what happened with 10p stung me because it really hurt that suddenly people felt I wasn't on the side of people on middle and modest incomes – because on the side of hard-working families is the only place I've ever wanted to be. And from now on it's the only place I ever will be."
He added: "The British people would not forgive us if at this time we looked inwards to the affairs of just our party when our duty is to the interests of our country." He insisted: "I know what I believe. I know who I am. I know what I want to do in this job. And I know that the way to deal with tough times is to face them down."
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