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Brown defies critics amid applause

LONDON: In a brave but transparently synthetic show of unity, Labour dissidents joined delegates at the party’s conference in Manchester on Tuesday to give Prime Minister Gordon Brown a standing ovation as he defied calls for him to quit and declared he was the right person to lead them to the next election in 2010.

In what was dubbed as a “make-or-break” speech at the concluding session of the conference, Mr. Brown made it clear he alone had the experience and vision to deal with the economic challenges facing the country. “I know the difference between right and wrong,” he said amid applause.

Although he did not attack his critics directly, his remarks were seen to be aimed at the Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed him in the event of a leadership election. His comments came barely 24 hours after Mr. Miliband delivered a thinly-veiled criticism of the leadership in his speech and was later reportedly overheard telling his aides that he had “toned down” his criticism so as not to be seen directly challenging Mr. Brown.

On Tuesday, Mr. Miliband joined in the applause as Mr. Brown called for party unity and told his critics that British people would “not forgive” them if they appeared obsessed with internal party affairs instead of “focusing” on their concerns in these “challenging times.”

In a spirited defence of his style and responding to criticism that he lacked charisma, Mr. Brown said he did not come to politics to be a “celebrity” or to be “popular.”

“I didn’t come to London because I wanted to join the Establishment…but because I wanted to change it. So I’m not going to be what I am not,” he said.

Pointedly addressing his colleagues who believe he is too serious, Mr. Brown added: “If some people think I’m too serious… well there is a lot to be serious about.”

He was repeatedly cheered as he took on his critics and drew a huge applause when, alluding to attempts to oust him, he turned to his wife and said: “Thank Goodness, Sarah and I are a team.”

Mr. Brown announced what he described as a “new settlement for new times,” promising to make Britain a “fairer” and more equitable society.

He may have survived the widely predicted leadership challenge for now, but with opinion polls showing the party is headed for an electoral “bloodbath” under his leadership, speculation about his future continued.

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