The Speech

One hour and five minutes gone, and what did we learn? Some new policy to chew over - regular health checks on the NHS, doubling the number of eco-towns to 10, a review of climate change goals, increasing maternity leave to 9 months and handheld computers for coppers to cut paperwork. Lots was nearly new, wrapping up his announcements he has made in the first three months in a perhaps lengthy list given mid-speech.

But this was all about the politics, Gordon Brown formerly introducing himself of the British public. His style, unlike Blair, appears to be to please all of the people all of the time. Here's how

I'm above party politics: "Britain: communities where buildings can be damaged and even destroyed but our spirit is indestructible" and "Our spirit is indestructible" and "Our spirit as great Britain stands united together"

I want the Daily Mail readers to vote Labour: "Let me be clear to any newcomer to Britain who is caught selling drugs or using guns will be thrown out. No-one who sells drugs to our children or uses guns has the right to stay in our country".

I want Telegraph readers: "I continue to reach out to all those who work hard and play by the rules, who believe in strong families and a patriotic Britain who may have supported other parties but who like me want to defend and advance British values and our way of life."

I want Independent readers: "I am asking the new interdependent climate change committee to report on whether the 60 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050, which is already bigger than most other countries, should be even stronger still."

I want Express readers: "In July I met Liam Fairhurst, a twelve year old boy who won the Diana Princess of Wales medal for raising money for cancer and leukaemia research."

Stop voting SNP: "Sharing this same small island we will meet our environmental, economic and security challenges not by splitting apart but when we as Great Britain stand together.

Blair couldn't fix it: "We all know that in our society we do have real problems to solve... "

Cameron is wrong on society: "but don't let anyone tell us - the British people - that this country of ours, which has over centuries given so much to the world, has ever been broken by anyone or anything."

I want to woo Tory and Lib Dem voters: "New Labour: now the party of aspiration and community. Not just occupying but shaping and expanding the centre ground."

I need a slogan to change the language on public service reform away from private involvement: "This is the future for our public services. Accessible to all, personal to you"

I want the religious vote: "We all remember that biblical saying: "suffer the little children to come unto me." No Bible I have ever read says: "bring just some of the children."

I want to keep party activists onside: "I pay tribute to our Deputy Leader Harriet Harman who by her campaigning work is pioneering this cause of equality. No discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, age or faith. And no discrimination against the disabled."

I want to keep the unions (particularly Unison) onside: "I can announce that matrons will have the power to order additional cleaning and send out a message - meet the highest standards of cleanliness or lose your contract."

I want Tony to keep an eye on Cherie's book: "Let me here acknowledge the contribution he is making now and the debt we owe as a party and as a country to Tony Blair."

Comments

[Chuck Unsworth]

I cannot recall a more profoundly uninspiring and depressing speech by any Prime Minister. This is a man who desperately wanted power, now has it, and doesn't have the slightest clue about what to do with it.

Where is real leadership, real honesty, transparency and integrity, and real ability? He and his colleagues have done little but tinker with the machinery of government, play with legislation, and seek to reward themselves hugely for so doing.

They do not represent good value for our money. Huge amounts of cash has simply been thrown at various services and carefully chosen 'consultants', to no avail. Their political stance is one of pure sloganising, whilst being completely dominated by events. Each of their countless and ill-considered pieces of legislation and new 'initiatives' has run into the sand.

After ten years as a major part of this government, Brown's first Prime Ministerial speech is a direct admission of abject failure. What has he been doing all this time? Why are he and his colleagues viewed with such mistrust, visceral loathing and contempt?

[michael joseph heavey]

when in doubt watch the wife/partner,
people watchers know the body language of leaders wife always gives away the lies,t/c were difficult both a list actors but gordon and partner and open book.

[Kitty]

Perhaps that was meant to read "formally" introducing himself, rather than "formerly". If only it was the latter...