 |  | Gordon Brown says voters "face the biggest choice for a generation" in a keynote speech to Labour's conference. |
PM lists Labour achievementsWe're not done yet, insists Brown | ||
Gordon Brown lists Labour's achievements Gordon Brown has urged Labour to "change the world again" in what was billed as his make-or-break speech to the party's annual conference. He said voters at the election, due to be held by next June, would have the "biggest choice for a generation". He said Labour would call a referendum on electoral reform and offer more free childcare for poorer families funded by axing better off parents' tax breaks. The prime minister also vowed a fresh crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
He spoke for just under an hour, ending with an attempt to boost the morale of party members shaken by polls suggesting they are heading for a massive defeat, telling them New Labour was "not done yet". He urged activists to "dream big dreams and watch our country soar" and "reach inside ourselves for the strength of our convictions" and to "fight" for victory - earning a standing ovation in the hall. In a repeat of last year, Mr Brown was introduced to delegates by wife Sarah, who delivered a tribute to her husband, telling delegates he was "no saint" but they had "been together through some tough times, and some great times, and we will be together forever". And she added: "I know he loves his country and I know he will always, always put you first." Tories 'wrong' Mr Brown began by telling Labour members they were "the fighters and believers who change the world - we have changed the world before and we are going to do it again". He told delegates he had acted "decisively and immediately" when Britain was "looking over a precipice" as banks teetered on the brink of failure last year, while Conservatives had taken decisions on the economy which were "consistently wrong". "The Conservative Party were faced with the economic call of the century and they called it wrong," he said.
On electoral reform, he said if Labour won the next election it would hold a referendum on scrapping the first-past the-post system for Westminster elections in favour of the Alternative Vote system. He also announced plans to allow voters to effectively sack MPs guilty of gross financial misconduct who have not already been expelled from the Commons. If more than 25% of voters in their constituency demand a recall there will be a by-election. HAVE YOUR SAY This new sound-bite is yet a further rehash of old policy brought about by yet more public failings Nick, Amersham He also unveiled measures aimed at cracking down on anti-social behaviour, announcing moves to combat "problem families" with an increase in the use of Family Intervention Projects. These are binding contracts which require parents of children guilty of anti-social behaviour to accept one-to-one support or else lose their benefits. He also pledged to force the courts to issue more Drinking Banning Orders - so-called drink Asbos - against anyone convicted of a crime who was under the influence of alcohol at the time. He told delegates: "We will not stand by and see the lives of the lawful majority disrupted by the behaviour of the lawless minority." And he promised action now, saying: "Between now and Christmas, neighbourhood policing will focus in a more direct and intensive way on anti-social behaviour," adding that "action squads will crack down on problem estates". His speech came on the day an Ipsos Mori survey suggests the Conservatives are on 36%, Labour on 24% and the Liberal Democrats on 25% - the first time since 1982 that this polling firm has recorded Labour in third place. Mr Brown is also thought to be ready to take part in a series of TV debates with David Cameron not just during the general election campaign but before it, the BBC understands. If the debates took place they would be the first ever televised prime ministerial debates to be held in Britain. | ||
I know he loves his country and I know he will always, always put you first 
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