Day 1 - Sunday 27th September 2009

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22:30 The Daily Mirror's Kevin Maguire tweets:  "I did not choose this party. i was born into it. The Labour Party is in my blood." Mandy inverted Blair in rehearsal of tomorrow's speech"

21:50 Speaking on 5 Live's Weekend News, Alastair Campbell discussed Andrew Marr's question to the Prime Minister about whether he took prescription painkillers:

"A precedent developed across the media that anything Gordon Brown does is wrong, he deserves abuse

"When rumours are deliberately circulated around the blogosphere, I think people were generally shocked that Andrew Marr on a BBC programe thinks it's his job to quote things being circulated on the internet

"It's true that John Major had a bit of a bad time when the press were putting the boot into him, but I don't think anything like what Gordon Brown is having done to him

He said of opinion polls that "they tend to reflect a prevailing mood, and that mood is set by the media", which presenter John Pienaar said was "like a fishing boat captain complaining about the weather"

John Cruddas spoke about the atmosphere at the conference and said he "I felt there was a real energy and a degree of passion that has been missing over the years"

He said he despaired when he heard that John Prescott was "pumping lead" all over the conference.

Jacqui Smith said "we've really got to, whilst recognising that we've come into this conference as underdogs .... it isn't a general election that hasn't been won or lost by anybody, but it's our job to fight"

"I think this year we're much clearer that talking about leadership is a waste of time

Gordon Brown "has been steadfast through one of the most difficult times to be prime minister, he has shown immense leadership and stoicism

"I'm in a really marginal seat, I still think we can win."

21:33 Labourlist have a piece with "snippets" from the Progress rally that took part earlier today. In particular, Lord Mandelson recieved a huge cheer and called David Cameron a "shallow flibbertigibbet"

21:14 Tomorrow's Independent reports that an opinion poll shows that the Labour party would do better at the next general election under 8 alternative leaders.

20:35 Paul Routledge has written in Tribune that Barry Sheerman, Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, has said that he will give Gordon Brown "until the end of conference to see if he’s delivered on his promise” and that “I’ve been very discontented with the powerlessness of the Parliamentary Labour Party over the past year at a crucial time in the party’s history.”

17:35 The Guardian reports that the decision of Compass to host an event with Greens' leader Caroline Lucas is causing consternation among delegates, given the fight the party faces against her in Brighton Pavillion seat.

17:31 Even Ed Balls is not in the conference hall to see his leader speak if this picture is anything to go by.

17:30 Operation fightback is well underway. The BBC's John Pienaar writes " Gordon Brown breaks world record for mentions of word "fight" in a single sentence. 7 x. Think he wants a fight-back. Think he needs one".

16:49 Gordon Brown kicks off a Q&A session telling delegates that the coming election is a fight for "the British people's values.

""We are the party fighting for the future," he says. " It is a fight for our values and a fight for the British people's values and let's win that fight".

However some in the conference hall, think the audience is a bit thin on the ground.

"Many, many empty seats," Tweets the Daily Mirror's James Lyons

16:11 James Purnell tells a fringe event organised by the Fabians event that Labour policy needs to combine the best of New Labour and Old Labour.

Both he and Jon Cruddas, rule out standing for the leadership, saying they would prefer to contribute radical ideas to the party without the need to focuss on ministerial (or shadow ministerial) briefs.

16:02 Douglas Alexander sets out campagining strategy "Operation Fightback", telling conference "It's not game over for Labour, it's game on". Delegates seem less taken than with Ed Milibands speech. As one twittering delegate puts it: "Douglas Alexander says we're up for the fight. He just didn't sound it!"

15:49 Ed Miliband delivers a well-received speech in which he tells delegates that "boldness is the only option" for the party in its policies for the coming election. "Boldness in economics, boldness in politics and boldness in climate change, too".

He argues that David Cameron wants to "sell middle Britain down the river" and implement policies leading to the social problems of the 1980's. "That was broken Britain, conference, and we do not want to go back."

He insists that despite the budget deficit, the party's policy objectives are still attainable.

"We're the optimists in British politics today we're the people who say despite tough times we can create a fairer. a greener, a more democratic Britain," he says.

"Lets go out and fight or the vision of society we believe in"

Read the full text of the speech here.

15:08 Shaun Woodward tells the BBC that Labour must show voters that the next election is a choice, not a referndum on the government.

""What we've go to do here is get people to understand it's not a referendum it's a choice and as a choice it has consequences," he ays.

"When they have to think about the consequences of that choice, and the risk they are taking, they will think again"

15:01 Business Minister and Chair of the National Policy Forum, Pat McFadden warns that defeat for Labour at the election would undo achiivements made since 1997. "We did not rebuild Britain just to see it thrown into reverse," he says.

Read the full text of the speech here.

14:42 Peter Hain tells the conference that the election will not be decided until "the very last moment" because the public still does not trust David Cameron.

"If we do our job as Labour leadership if you do your jobs as the Labour grassroots whatever the polls say when people get into the privacy of their polling booth then I think the next election will be more like 1992 when everyone expected the government to lose but in the end voters considered the opposition too much of a risk".

Read the full text here.

13:54: Lord Mandelson was reportedly refused entry to the conference due to problems with  his security pass.

12:31: The annual football match between MPs and journalists, sees the hacks victorious, to the annoyance of Saqiq Khan. "Lobby journalists aka Ringers Utd beat us I'm afraid. Grrrr," he tweets

09:42 Gordon Brown, speaking on the Andrew Marr show, insists he is right man to lead Labour, and rejects rumours that his eyesight is failing and he is on medication.

08:03 The cabinet is out in force in the morning papers. The Telegraph interviews Gordon Brown, The Times and The Mirror get Lord Mandelson, The Observer grills Alistair Darling and Harriet Harman, while Jack Straw contributes an article, while the Independent on Sunday talks to David Miliband, and features a piece from Peter Hain.

07:31 The party publishes 'A Choice for Britain', a document setting out what it regards as the policy debate in the run up to the election. Writing in the foreword, Gordon Brown says:

""We are fighting for a better future for our country. In the next election campaign, the choices will be starker than ever. To win the fight, we must not only defend our record and achievements: we must show how we are driving forward to meet new challenges.

He adds: "By 2015, we want our country to be fairer, greener, more prosperous and democratic. A new Labour Government based on our enduring mission to offer everyone, not just the privileged few, the chance to succeed.

"We know this will be the fight of our lives. But we will fight hard because this election is about everything we care about - fairness and responsibility."