A MAN OF SUBSTANCE

by RAY FLEMING
IT will be difficult to evaluate the true impact of Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour Party Conference yesterday until one is able to view it in the context of what Tony Blair says in his address today. Mr Brown could not have paid a more effusive tribute to the Prime Minister; will Mr Blair reciprocate with comparable language and if he does will that dispel once and for all the suggestion that he does not really support his Chancellor for the succession? If he does not he will do a disservice to Labour's future and damage to his own legacy. In experience and ability Gordon Brown is streets ahead of any possible challenger in the party, a man of substance whose political vision and intellectual grasp are recognised internationally. Mr Brown rightly pointed out yesterday that his relationship as Chancellor with Tony Blair has been the longest of its kind in modern British history; traditionally, for understandable reasons, Chancellors and Prime Ministers do not get on well together but, despite disagreements, this pair have made the relationship work, to Britain's advantage. Hopefully, Mr Blair will set a positive example today to Mr Brown's critics within the Labour party. The damage done in the past few weeks by personal criticism of Gordon Brown will take a lot to repair. It was infuriating to hear Charles Clarke making an apology yesterday for his unjustified abusive attack on Mr Brown which attracted so much negative attention.