The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has set out Labour's forward-looking agenda of change to meet the priorities that matter to the British people - the NHS, education, crime, affordable housing, the pressures on hard-working families, and a strong economy.

And he showed why it is Labour that today is the only party with the strength to change Britain.

Expressing how he was ‘humbled and honoured’ to address his first Conference as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party, Gordon Brown pledged to the British people:

‘I will not let you down.
‘I will stand up for our schools and our hospitals.
‘I will stand up for British values.
‘I will stand up for a strong Britain.
‘And I will always stand up for you.’

In a personal speech, where the Prime Minister set out his vision for a Britain of rising aspiration and opportunity he talked of the ‘moral compass’ which guides everything he does.

He said:

‘I am a conviction politician. I stand for a Britain where everyone should rise as far as their talents can take them and then the talents of each of us should contribute to the well being of all.

I stand for a Britain where all families who work hard can build a better life for themselves and their children.

I stand for a Britain where every young person who has it in them to study at college or university should not be prevented by money from doing so.

I stand for a Britain where public services exist for the patient, the pupil, the people who are to be served.

I stand for a Britain where it is a mark of citizenship that you should learn our language and traditions.

I stand for a Britain where we expect responsibility at every level of society.

I stand for a Britain that defends its citizens and both punishes crime and prevents it by dealing with the root causes.

I stand for a Britain where because this earth is on loan to us from future generations, we must all be stewards of the environment.

So I stand for a Britain where we all have obligations to each other and by fulfilling them, everyone has the chance to make the most of themselves.

And these are the principles which I believe can guide us as we, the British people, meet all the new challenges ahead: global economic competition, the terrorist and security threat, climate change, the yearning for stronger communities, the pressures to balance work and family life, and most of all - something you can hear and sense in every part of the country - the rising aspirations of the British people.’

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