Gordon Brown claimed fairness and optimism for Labour yesterday, as he attempted to turn David Cameron’s attacks back on the Conservatives.

“I don’t believe Britain is broken – I think it’s the best country in the world,” the Prime Minister told delegates in Manchester, a reference to Mr Cameron’s claim that Britain has a broken society.

Saying that markets should be “the servants of the people, and never their masters”, he said that his “unwavering focus is taking this country through the challenging economic circumstances we face”.

Mr Brown backed up his offer of a “fair Britain for the new age” with a string of announcements on more help for cancer sufferers, poorer children, working mothers and victims of crime.

Although he hinted at “tough choices” ahead on public spending, he contrasted Labour’s willingness to intervene with financial help against the thrust of Conservative policy.

“Our duty, what gives us moral purpose, is serving the people who need us most: Britain’s vast majority. People on middle and modest incomes who need to know that they are not on their own amidst this change – we are on their side.”

He added: “Insuring people against the new risks and empowering people with new opportunities is the mission of the hour. And those who say that governments should walk away when people face these risks and need these opportunities will be judged to be on the wrong side of history.”

The centrepiece announcement of his speech was the waiving of prescription charges for cancer patients. He said that the measure, which will benefit about a quarter of a million patients and cost about £300 million, would, over time, be extended to all those suffering from long-term illnesses.

The waiving of the charge – which now stands at £7.10 – will be funded by savings in drug procurement. It follows a campaign by patients’ groups.

On education, Mr Brown confirmed pilot projects that will offer free nursery places for two-year-olds for up to 15 hours a week. It will, however, take ten years for all parents in England and Wales to be eligible.

About 1.4 million poorer school children would be given help to get access to the internet and primary school pupils falling behind would be guaranteed personal tuition, he said.

The promise of catchup tuition goes considerably farther than previous policies, which have merely said that such tuition would be on offer to struggling pupils.

It will build on the success of a pilot scheme for six-year-olds, called Every Child a Reader, which found that struggling readers could catch up and overtake their classmates after 12 weeks of specialist teaching for half an hour a day.

Under Mr Brown’s plans, children aged 7 to 11 who have slipped behind will have a guaranteed right to personal tuition from 2011. Parents will have a right of appeal if they feel that their children are not getting the necessary help.

Fairness meant standing up for the victims of crime, the Prime Minister said, announcing that there would be a new independent commissioner to look after their rights. However, the post was first promised by Labour more than four years ago and, in October 2005, a Home Office minister said that a commissioner would be in post by April 2006.

In February last year, however, the Government admitted that the recruitment campaign had not identified a suitable candidate.

Mr Brown tried to rally Labour members, mocking two of the Conservatives’ best-known attacks and denying that defeat at the next general election was inevitable. He cited a list of achievements to dismiss the claim by George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, that he had failed to prepare Britain’s economy for the glo-bal turmoil. “Let’s hear no more from the Conservatives,” he said. “We did fix the roof when the sun was shining.”

And Mr Brown exploited division among senior Conservatives over David Cameron’s “broken society” slogan, insisting that “ours is a country full of heroes”. He went on: “The Conservatives may want to represent the future, but whether it’s Europe or energy, planning or tax credits, university places or 42 days [detention for terrorist suspects], whenever they are tested on substance they have nothing to offer to meet the big challenges of tomorrow, because they are prisoners of their past.

“If you look beneath the surface, you’ll see that the Conservatives might have changed their tune, but they haven’t changed their minds.”

Transatlantic talk

'Twenty-five years ago I asked the people of Fife to send me to Parliament to serve the country I love. And I didn’t come to London because I wanted to join the Establishment'.

Gordon Brown, Manchester, September 23, 2008

'I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion – I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country'.

Sarah Palin, Republican convention, St Paul, Minnesota, September 3, 2008

'This job is not about me, it’s about you. Gordon Brown, Manchester This election has never been about me. It’s been about you'.

Barack Obama acceptance speech, Denver, Colorado

'I’m so proud that every day I see him motivated to work for the best interests of people all around the country. Sarah Brown, Manchester I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president'.

Michelle Obama, Democratic convention, August 25, 2008

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