Miliband hails 'inspirational' Brown

The Foreign Secretary today paid a high-profile tribute to Gordon Brown, using his conference speech to praise the Prime Minister's leadership on the global stage.

David Miliband, widely tipped as a rival to Mr Brown for the Labour leadership, said the Prime Minister had "transformed the political debate about international development" in the UK.

But, he added: "An age of massive change needs leadership from a party dedicated to change."

Mr Miliband, who received a standing ovation lasting almost a minute from delegates, said the party needed to "prove the fatalists wrong".

Mr Brown sat on the stage listening as Mr Miliband hailed the crucial role he played in striking a deal to end the use of deadly cluster munitions.

The Foreign Secretary said: "Those talks were deadlocked. And the deadlock was broken by one man - our Prime Minister Gordon Brown. That is the sort of difference he makes in the world."

Mr Miliband praised Mr Brown's "committed leadership" in tackling global poverty.

At one stage, Mr Miliband turned to the Prime Minister and told him: "Gordon, it's not just the policy.

"It's no exaggeration to say you have transformed the political debate about international development in this country over the last 11 years and we should take inspiration from you."