The voters – not Miliband – will have to do for Brown

As I wrote earlier, Miliband did fine today. But, as Nick Robinson says, the speech did not have the electricity to inspire Labour to dump Gordon. Of course, they might well still end up doing so. But – on today’s evidence – it won’t be because they’re particularly enthused by the idea of Prime Minister David Miliband.

I suspect that Brown’s address tomorrow will not be as decisive as people are expecting. Brown’s conference speeches are never great but they are always adequate. Adequate tomorrow will buy Brown some time but it won’t end the leadership speculation. As soon as the date is named for the Glenrothes by-election, all the chatter about whether Brown can survive will start up again.

There is, though, one conference speech whose importance has not yet been fully appreciated: Harman’s. She is giving the final address, the one that Prescott used to give, which is meant to be a rallying cry to the party faithful.