Ö÷²¥´óÐã

Gordon Brown's speech was certainly .

A genuine attempt to prove that Labour could still come up with new initiatives after 12 years in office.

A National Care Service, "supervised homes" for teenage mums, a referendum on reform of the voting system.

Almost too much content to remember.

But it was also a very Gordon Brown speech.

Few oratorical flushes, almost no jokes, no real revelation.

It went down well in the Hall but the mood didn't match that generated by Lord Mandelson yesterday.

And my viewing of the speech was slightly unusual this year.

As journalists we're packed into one part of the hall, so it's usually the corner where nobody's clapping or cheering.

But one delegate had somehow found herself in the media area, sat next to me.

She stuck out a bit like a sore thumb among the impassive journalistic mob when she was brave enough to applaud.

She certainly seemed enthusiastic, although she muttered about having heard it all before when Gordon Brown started talking about the NHS and his eyesight.

I don't think it changed her mind though about what she liked and didn't like about her leader or her party.

And I do think we as journalists can get a little obsessed with the importance of setpiece speeches.

I can't think of many - or perhaps any - occasions when they've transformed the fortunes of our political parties on their own.

I don't think this speech was an exception.

The key for Labour lies in not what happened today, but what happens from now on.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• |
• |
• - What's this?