Chancellor Gordon Brown vowed that he would “listen” and “learn” on Friday as he formally announced his candidacy to succeed Tony Blair.
In a bold, and at times highly personal, speech the chancellor said it would be the “greatest honour” to take charge of the party and offer “new ideas for a new time”.
Admitting he was pleased that his “friend”, the prime minister had endorsed him as his successor, Brown also attempted to set his priorities apart from those of the Blair government. Under his leadership, power would be restored to parliament and government made more open and accountable with a new ministerial code.
“Today there are new priorities and I offer a new leadership for this new time,” he said. Brown insisted he would welcome a challenge from “any other candidate who wants to stand”, and said he would “fight hard” for every single nomination and expression of support.
The ‘iron chancellor’ also attempted to portray a more human image, talking of his moral compass, the joys of fatherhood and a childhood accident on a rugby pitch that left him blind in one eye.
Setting out his “core beliefs” he said the Britain he believed in was a Britain of fairness and opportunity for all citizens. “If you work hard you are better off, if you save you are rewarded, if you play by the rules we will stand by you,” he said.
As chancellor, he had learned that when you got something right, it was wise to build on it. “But part of experience and judgment is to recognise that when you fall short you listen, you learn and then you are confident enough to set new priorities,” he said.  
Just as his first act as chancellor of the exchequer was to give away power to the Bank of England to restore trust in economic policy, so one of his first acts as prime minister would be to restore power to parliament in order to build the trust of the British people in our democracy.
More accountable
“Government must be more open and more accountable to parliament,” he said. “For example, in decisions about peace and war, in public appointments and in a new ministerial code of conduct.”
But this was just the beginning, Brown said.
“Over the coming months, I want to build a shared national consensus for a programme of constitutional reform that strengthens the accountability of all who hold power, that is clear about the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in Britain today, that defends the union, and is vigilant about ensuring the hard-won liberties of the individual for which Britain has for centuries been renowned round the world, are at all times upheld, without relenting in our attack on terrorism.” 
Sporting a new haircut and flanked by his campaign logo, “Gordon Brown for Britain”, the chancellor described how his upbringing and personal experiences had affected his politics.
“My father was a minister. For me my parents were, and their inspiration still is, my moral compass.  It’s a compass which has guided me through each stage of my life. They taught me the importance of integrity and decency, of treating people fairly and of duty to others.”
 Brown said the “sheer joy” of fatherhood had changed his life, and he was “struggling” to make sure he was a good parent. “Because I was fortunate enough to benefit from the best of education at my local school which helped me to university, and because I had the best of healthcare that saved my sight when I was injured playing rugby and struggled as a teenager, I want for my children and for all children the best education and the best healthcare,” he said.