Hard work as Brown plays to his strengths

Who chose the music? "Those that find themselves ridiculous, sit down next to me," warbled James, the Manchester rock band, in their 1990s hit Sit Down, as Labour activists took their places in the G-MEX centre for Gordon Brown's conference speech. In a lumpy grey skirt, the PM's wife waddled to the lectern and introduced the star turn.

Out he came, beaming like an over-polished piano keyboard. One joke a year is enough for Brown and he got it over with fast. "I didn't go into politics thinking I would always be popular." Pause. "Perhaps that's just as well." A collective sigh of relief greeted that. "But if people say I'm too serious, quite honestly there's a lot to be serious about." Genuine applause now and people seemed reassured: Gordon was going to play to his strengths.

Last week's financial meltdown had been