'No time for a novice': Gordon Brown goes on the offensive in Manchester
Updated on 23 September 2008
Watch the highlights from Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour party conference.
Opening words
No time for a novice
Fairness is in our DNA
NHS saved by sight
On child poverty
On 10p tax
On being popular
Key extracts
Popularity
"I didn't come into politics to be a celebrity or thinking I'd always be popular. Perhaps, that's just as well. No, 25 years ago I asked the people of Fife to send me to parliament to serve the country I love."
Mistakes
"And 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. "
Fairness
"And why do we always strive for fairness?
Not because it makes good soundbites.
Not because it gives good photo opportunities.
Not because it makes for good P.R.
No.
We do it because fairness is in our DNA.
It's who we are - and what we're for.
It's why Labour exists.
It's our first instinct, the soul of our party.
It's why when things get tough, we get tougher. We stand up, we fight hard - for fairness. We don't give in, and we never will."
