Gordon Brown unveils his vision for the future

Gordon Brown yesterday asked people to judge him by his policies not his personality as he unveiled his "passionate" vision for the next year.

The day after executing the biggest U-turn of his premiership to defuse the 10p tax row, Mr Brown urged voters not to write him off.

Instead, he appealed: "I ask and expect to be judged by this test - our stewardship of the British economy and building a lasting prosperity by releasing untapped potential.

"With this, we can pass a second and wider test - building a fairer Britain where nobody who makes the effort is left out or loses out.

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"This opportunity-rich Britain is both my passion and my purpose."

Mr Brown was joined by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Health Secretary Alan Johnson, Education Secretary Ed Balls and Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman as he spoke out at a community centre in Bermondsey, South East London.