Conference Watch

What to watch for in Bournemouth

Gordon's first Labour conference as Prime Minister begins today: it could conceivably be his last. Just as last year's gathering of the party in Manchester was dominated by Tony Blair's farewell and the prospects for smooth transition to the Brown regime, the proceedings in Bournemouth will be consumed by a single question and one that will almost certainly not be mentioned on the conference floor: the timing of the election.
Coffee House

Should Labour rewrite Clause Four again?

Cabinet rising star Andy Burnham tells the Fabian fringe that Labour should revisit its statement of aims and values, so that an inspiring mission underpins Labour's agenda for the next decade. Should Labour have a new Clause four debate? What would you put in a new Clause Four, or should we stick with the one we've got?

Labour Home

Remember the members

Labour 07: We should be wary of recently proposed reforms: they chip away at the party's democracy.

John McDonnell

Oh Darling

Not a barnstormer of a speech from our new Chancellor, but I don't think that the Silver Fox does rabble-rousing. He did get his standing ovation at the end, but that seemed more out of courtesy and production planning than a genuine admiration for his delivery. Still, I want a calm hand on the economic tiller, not tub-thumping, so I'll settle for that.

Political HackUK

Mandy surrenders

The news that Peter Mandelson thinks Gordon Brown is doing a good job is the rib-tickler of the day so far.

Ben Brogan

Should Gordon go for it?

Labour 07: The polls look good for Labour, but thanks to the peculiar workings of the British electoral system, that is not necessarily good enough.

Lewis Baston

The new Labour split

In the conference hotel bar, there is but one subject under heated discussion, and it is, like treason, a matter of dates. The old Blair-Brown conference clash (RIP) has been replaced this year by a rather different sort of division: the Octobrists versus the Mayites, the 'go now, Gordon' camp versus the 'wait and see' crew.

Coffee House

Brown Says a Lot But Says Nothing

When I finished listening to Gordon Brown's speech I felt I had been assaulted by a wet lettuce. I am afraid I got distracted at various points so I didn't hear it all, but the bits I did hear could easily have been spoken by a Conservative. The new policy announcements tumbled out like a machine gun rat-a-tat-tat. The sheer audacity of much of it had to be admired, even if the delivery left something to be desired.

Iain Dale

Deliberately Dull?

I've heard too many leaders' speeches, whether Tory, Labour or Lib Dem, than I care to remember, and I have to say today's, from Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was the dullest and most boring I have ever heard. In fact it was brilliant. This was clearly part of Labour's strategy for a fourth term in Government. Cameron is not seen as credible because he reminds voters of Tony Blair and after 10 years the electorate is ready for a change. You couldn't get a greater contrast than Gordon Brown and to the electorate it must look like a significant change has taken place.

Adrian Sanders

Britain, Britain, Britain, Britain, Britain

I've lost count of the number of Brtiain's in Brown's speech. Got to 26, and as Guido notes, only one mention of Scotland.

Dizzy Thinks

Artful but uninspiring

Labour 07: The prime minister's speech pressed all the right buttons, but never soared. Above all, it left us guessing at Brown's vision of Britain.

Martin Kettle