Brown speech bids to silence critics

Published By: Mathew White On Tuesday 23 September 2008

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Prime Minister Gordon Brown is preparing for the toughest test of his political life when he addresses the Labour Party conference.

Mr Brown will be looking to reassert his authority and face down the rebels who for several months have been criticising his leadership.

His speech comes against the backdrop of opinion polls predicting near-wipeout for Labour at the next election.

Although the five-day gathering has seen little in the way of open dissent, commentators believe Mr Brown must deliver the speech of his life to win back genuine enthusiasm from grassroots activists and MPs.

He will seek to show his critics that the Government will take action to aid the most disadvantaged families in Britain by unveiling schemes to provide every schoolchild with broadband Internet access at home and offer free part-time nursery care for two-year-olds.

He will say that he wants to deliver "a Britain of fair chances for all, and fair rules applied to all".

And he will insist that his driving principles of "fairness" and opportunity for all go hand in hand with requiring responsibility from all in a "something for something Britain, not a nothing for nothing Britain".

He will say: "So our policy is that everyone who can work must work, so that the dole is only for those looking for work or actively preparing for it. That's only fair to the people pulling their weight."

And he will add: "Taking action on the causes of crime will never mean indulging those who perpetrate it.

"Justice seen is justice done - so you will be seeing more police on the street, higher profiles for the verdicts of the court, and greater visibility for the people doing community payback.

"That's only fair to the law abiding majority."

He will say he recognises the contribution made to Britain by migrant workers but will add: "Nobody in Britain should get to take more out of the system than they are willing to put in.

"The other side of welcoming newcomers who can help Britain is being tough about excluding those who won't and can't.

"That's only fair to the tax-paying public and to the migrants who uphold the rules.

"So, across the board, we will create rules that reward those who play by them and punish those who don't. That's what fairness means to me."

Source: ITN.co.uk

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