Also high on the audience list was the media. Gordon specifically addressed - again and again - matters relating to his character, the main perceived source of weakness in his bid for the leadership. Despite an overt theme of rights and responsibilities, he again returned to a very personal description of his family life and how it catalysed his involvement in politics.

It won't pass note that he again announced that policy aspiration that state school spending per pupil will rise to match the £8,000 spent on each pupil in private education, though he has announced this before a number of times to my recollection.

There did seem to be a barb or two for number 10 - particularly with his references to decentralising power to parliament and to local government - and particularly pointed was his suggestion that the government should be divorced from political appointments - did he have peerages and other honours in mind?

The reception from the party members was gushing. Outside the GMEX, members and delegates were effusive in their expression of their fondness for him and his personal desire to take on Cameron seemed to fill the audience with a taste for the battle ahead.

In that hall we were all comrades - though not quite all if Bloomberg is to be believed.

The comments attributed to Cherie - that Gordon was lying - are either true - in which case I can't imagine how better the shine could have been taken off is speech, or the Bloomberg journalist was mistaken - in which case it's another example of how the mainstream media is obsessed with frippery and uninterested in policy.

Gordon Brown's speech did one thing that will not please every member of the party. The spotlight is again, firmly on the looming succession.