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BRITISH PRIME minister Gordon Brown delivered an effective speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester yesterday at a time of great personal and political weakness. He found the right tone to insist that he and Labour should be trusted with government in a period of profound change in international economic affairs.

He has probably done enough to stem moves to replace him as leader. This will give him an opportunity to persuade voters that Labour is worth a fourth term in office. But it is an uphill climb against the prevailing national mood which favours political change and is ready to give the Conservatives a serious hearing.