BRITAIN: Gordon Brown openly pitched to be Britain's next prime minister yesterday with a conference speech promising the renewal of New Labour in pursuit of "the good society" driven by the "power of social conscience".
With Tony Blair sitting alongside him, Mr Brown addressed Labour Party conference delegates in Manchester and his wider television audience as presumptive leader-in-waiting with a vision of the "new politics" required to meet the "quite different" challenges of the next 10 years.
While intended to be healing and to show that his leadership would be inclusive, the chancellor offered only a half apology for his now very public "differences" with the prime minister - seeming to imply to Blairite loyalists at least that perhaps he and Mr Blair shared some of the responsibility for the convulsions following the failed "coup" of three weeks ago.
Mr Brown said it had been "a privilege" for him to work with "the most successful ever Labour leader and prime minister" and described theirs as "the longest relationship of any prime minister and chancellor in British history". However, he said it was "hardly surprising that as in any relationship there have been times when we've differed.
"Where over these years differences have distracted from what matters I regret that, and I know Tony does too."
That failed to impress Blair insiders, who privately acknowledged that Mr Brown had positioned himself firmly as the natural New Labour successor, giving no policy hostages to the left in a speech signalling more of the same across the spectrum - from "reform" and private sector involvement in the public services, to ID cards, the extension of police powers to detain suspects without charge or trial and solidarity with America "in the fight against terrorism".
He won a protracted standing ovation at the end of his speech stressing his commitment to "politics as service" and insisting "the Labour Party must stand for more than a programme - we must have a soul".
However, he did not quite electrify the conference hall and his audience noticeably remained seated while applauding warmly his declaration for the top job when Mr Blair finally stands down.
"I know where I come from, what I believe and what I can contribute and I am confident that my experience and my values give me the strength to take the tough decisions. I would relish the opportunity to take on David Cameron and the Conservative Party."
A smiling Mr Blair joined in the applause, although the subsequent lunchtime buzz resulted from the more electrifying reports - subsequently officially denied - that Cherie Blair had walked out during Mr Brown's speech, describing his reference to the "privilege" of serving with her husband as "a lie".
Students of spin were also quickly at work dissecting the Brown script for coded criticisms of the Blair style of government and signals that his would be different. It was claimed some journalists were briefed in advance on the significance of one key passage in which Mr Brown promised a leadership of substance rather than "celebrity".
As "a quite private person", Mr Brown asserted that what drew him to politics "was not a search for fame or headlines but a determination to make a difference".
"If I thought the future of politics was just about celebrity and not about something more substantial, I wouldn't be in politics. If being in public life becomes about image above all else, then I don't believe politics would be serving the public at all."
Mocking his own reported image makeover, he said: "It will not be a surprise to you to learn I'm more interested in the future of the Arctic Circle than the future of the Arctic Monkeys. Some see politics as spectacle. I see politics as service because it is through service that you can make a difference and you can help people change their lives."
The Rev Ian Paisley is to address a private event on the conference fringe on Thursday, to be formally hosted by Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain.
In a subsequent speech at conference it is thought Mr Hain might outline the ruling NEC's proposed next steps in the development of Labour's membership activities in the North.
It is understood these will open the way to the eventual creation of local constituency Labour parties and the possibility "in principle" of Labour candidates seeking election at some point.
The full text of Gordon Brown's speech is on The Irish Times website at www.ireland.com