Brown Seeks Public Trust During Crisis

'No Time for a Novice,' Prime Minister Warns

MANCHESTER, England, Sept. 23 -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown cast himself Tuesday as a serious and experienced "rock of stability" capable of leading his party and country through what he called the biggest economic upheaval since the Industrial Revolution.

"If people say I'm too serious, quite honestly there's a lot to be serious about," Brown said in his no-nonsense baritone. Analysts say he is hoping to revive his leadership amid dismal approval ratings, rebellious party members and global economic turmoil.

In an hour-long speech to his Labor Party's annual general meeting, Brown mixed contrition for past mistakes with calls for confidence in his long experience presiding over Britain's economy.

"This last week will be studied by our children as the week the world was spun on its axis and old certainties were turned on their heads," Brown said of the global financial chaos.

Brown's popularity has been sliding for months because of growing economic woes and a widespread perception of indecision and a lack of clear leadership. But because the British public appears nervous about changing leaders in the middle of a crisis, pressure for him to step down has eased, at least for now.

In a pointed putdown of his main rival, 41-year-old Conservative Party leader David Cameron, Brown said, "I am all in favor of apprenticeships, but let me tell you this is no time for a novice."

Some party members said they also thought that line was meant as a caution sign for Foreign Secretary David Miliband, 43, who is seen as a likely candidate to lead the Labor Party should Brown be ousted.

"In these uncertain times, we must be, we will be, the rock of stability and fairness upon which people can stand," said Brown, who, despite years of efforts by his handlers to spice up his image, delivered an address that seemed designed to underscore substance over style.

The speech recalled Brown's campaign slogan when he succeeded Prime Minister Tony Blair last year: "Not Flash, Just Gordon."

Brown did, however, add flourishes reminiscent of the showmanship of the recent U.S. political conventions. Party members were shown a short video about Brown's life, which featured Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama praising Brown for having a "clear sense" of "how to rebuild the economy for Britain."

Noting that he will leave Wednesday for New York to meet with U.S. financial and government leaders, Brown said that global leaders need to do "nothing less than rebuild the world financial system around clear principles."

In a BBC interview Sunday, Brown half-joked that a good slogan for the times would be: "It's the global economy, stupid."