What Labour Party conference showed us about Brown and Cameron

A fascinating mix of policy discussion, 'networking' and general gossip, fuelled by unhealthy quantities of coffee and surrounded by a forest of stands (ranging from unions and newspapers to weapons manufacturers and fox-hunters).

So while everyone at conference buzzed with excitement at JK Rowling's 1 million donation to the Labour Party or the occasional sighting of Jeremy Paxman or Bexhill legend Eddie Izzard, what was the rest of the world looking at? And how relevant was conference for the rest of Britain?

Well, Manchester City's rout of Portsmouth made a few headlines. As did a dreadful shooting in Finland and the faults discovered at the new CERN super-collider in Switzerland.

But come Tuesday, both inside Labour Party conference and out, Gordon Brown's speech was the major talking point, seen by many to be a 'make or break' moment. If you believed some papers, this was either Gordon's pointless attempt at saving an election he'd already lost, or a chance to damage his chances beyond repair.

For me, this speech was an honest account of what a horrible time Brown has had in the last few months - from a surprisingly open admission that the 10p tax backfired and (wrongly) led many people to believe that the Tory party best represented the poor, to an explanation of why he doesn't want his kids in the papers.

Most importantly, though, this speech showed what Labour has done that the Tories never will. He gave details of the incredible achievements of the past ten years - the minimum wage or Sure Start centres, for example. But more significantly, he made a number of policy announcements to show that unlike the Tories, Labour has a real plan to make Britain a better place over the coming years.

Rather than adopting Cameron's style of hinting vaguely at policies which might reflect the mood of the nation that week, Gordon Brown unstintingly took the bull by the horns and made clear what he plans to do to ensure that Britain can cope with the current tough economic times.

It will be a legal requirement for the government to reduce child poverty. The plan to give children free access to nurseries from the age of 2 will be extended. Free computers and internet access will be provided to children from low income families. From next year onwards, cancer prescription charges will be scrapped.

The list goes on.

If Tuesday's speech is anything to go by, Gordon Brown has not finished yet.