Brown to fight on despite critics

Prime Minister Gordon Brown defied calls for him to quit, vowing on Tuesday to stand by his beliefs and fight on to make life better for people living in Britain.
In a speech to his Labour Party's annual conference, Brown said that with global markets in crisis this was no time for a novice, a remark aimed at the Conservative opposition and, perhaps, potential Labour rival David Miliband.
After 11 years in power, Labour is lagging some 20 points behind the Conservatives in opinion polls, putting the government on course for a crushing defeat at the next national election, due by mid-2010.
Brown, 57, promised few significant new policies or spending measures, which may not stop some Labour lawmakers questioning his leadership. But delegates loved his performance and bookmakers said it was now less likely he would go.
"I know that the way to deal with tough times is to face them down. Stay true to your beliefs," said Brown, who took over from Tony Blair as leader in June 2007 without an election.
"Understand that all the attacks, all the polls, all the headlines, all the criticism, it's all worth it, if in doing this job I make life better for one child, one family, one community," the former finance minister said.
Brown admitted there was not much money to spend, but pledged to improve healthcare and education, give everyone a fair chance and reform the global financial system to avert a repeat of the crisis that has crippled major banks.
A mini-mutiny erupted last week when a dozen members of parliament called for Brown to go. While the revolt petered out, talk of a challenge may grow if polls don't improve for Labour.
"There seems to be little appetite amongst the rank-and-file for a full-blown leadership campaign at this point so we think he is probably safe at least for the rest of the year," said Graham Sharpe, spokesman for bookmakers William Hill.

SARAH AND OBAMA
Conservative economic affairs spokesman George Osborne said there was nothing new in Brown's speech and a weak prime minister could not lead Britain out of crisis.
"This was the same old Brown. No apology for the mess he's got the country into, no new ideas that show us how he's going to get out of it, no idea how anything will be paid for," he said. "Gordon Brown is retreating to the left to save his job."
In a break with tradition, Brown's wife Sarah introduced him with a short film listing Labour's achievements since 1997 and an endorsement from U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama.
"Prime Minister Brown has a clear sense of not only how to rebuild the economy for the people of Britain but also a broader vision about how all of us have to work together," Obama said.
Labour delegates were in festive mood in the jammed conference hall, some dancing to pop music before Brown appeared and whooping and whistling when he took to the stage.
"Who can beat Gordon Brown in terms of experience, understanding and the ability to speak from the heart? This was the time for a big speech and he delivered," said Claudia Webbe, an anti-gun crime campaigner at the conference.
The economy was once the jewel in Labour's crown. But inflation is now double the government's target, unemployment is rising fast and the housing market has crashed, pushing Britain towards its first recession since 1992.
The prime minister lacks Blair's easy charm and some in Labour want a better communicator to lead them into the next election. But Brown insisted he would not change.
"I didn't come into politics to be a celebrity or thinking I would always be popular. Perhaps, that's just as well ... So I'm not going to try to be something I'm not," Brown said.
"If people say I'm too serious, quite honestly there is a lot to be serious about."


WANKER
"To be born English is to win first prize in the lottery of life"