I FIRST went to the Labour Party conference back in 1989 and I've been pretty much every year since - but I've never known a week like this one.

First, I don't think I've every seen the Labour Party so united. Members seem to be right behind Gordon Brown and the changes he wants to make.

People here in Dudley have been telling me they think Gordon has made a good start too. I think they've seen he can govern the country - he's shown that in the way he's dealt with the unexpected emergencies such as the bombing attacks in London and Glasgow, the floods, foot and mouth and the problems with the Northern Rock bank.

But last week people saw him set out his personal beliefs and the values that drive him on and they saw too that he's got a vision for the country and the strength the change Britain.

He showed how he wanted to make changes on crime, by tackling gun crime and setting out measures to curb anti-social behaviour by doing more to keep young people out of trouble.

On health, new plans for a deep clean of every hospital will step up our work to deal with MRSA and we also set out how we will build on the improvements we have made to treating cancer, push forward our plans for increased GP access and expand specialist treatment centres.

I think both parents and teachers will welcome the steps we took to improve discipline, extend education from three to eighteen and expand the use of one-to-one teaching.