Behind in the polls and with his economic reputation under scrutiny against a backdrop of a global financial downturn, Brown is fighting for his political life.
Writing in the Guardian, Brown sought to emphasise the role his government had played in tackling the financial shockwaves, despite the collapse of Northern Rock last year, the forced merger of another last week, and the economy tottering on the brink of recession.
"Just as when we stopped Northern Rock going to the wall, we took the necessary and decisive action this week to protect stability and keep the financial system moving," Brown wrote.
"We have acted to secure people's savings, support the housing market, and underpin liquidity in the banking sector."
It was an open pitch by the former finance minister to talk up his economic skills on the opening day of his party's decision-making gathering. Anything less than a command performance when he addresses party delegates is likely to see Brown's popularity further dented at a time he faces a low-level revolt within his party.
More than a dozen Labour MPs called for Brown to stand down or submit to a leadership contest last week, piling pressure on the prime minister just 15 months after he succeeded Tony Blair without an election.
Brown does not have to call the next election until June 2010. Given his and his party's lack of popularity, and the economic and financial problems affecting the nation, he is likely to wait as long as possible before calling it.
Instead, he hopes the conference can revive fortunes and party unity, and perhaps lay the groundwork for a fightback.
" People are beginning to see again that politics is not a permanent referendum on a government, but a choice between competing philosophies," Brown wrote.
"It is only a Labour government that is able to act now to tackle the instability in the economy and provide the security that businesses and families need."
CALL FOR UNITY
While last week was a torrid one for Brown, senior members of his party, including cabinet ministers, rallied around him on Saturday, describing him as the best man for the job.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband, someone tipped to succeed Brown if he were to be forced from office, called for party unity and for all members to throw their support behind Brown.
"It is time for the party to come together," he told the Mirror newspaper. "I've made it clear I don't think it's the time for a leadership election."
Yet despite the show of unity, not everyone agrees. An online poll of 788 Labour Party members showed 54 percent want another leader.
As a consequence every minister's speech to the conference in Manchester will be examined in detail for any sign of disloyalty.
No immediate rebellion is expected, but Brown will have to show he can still electrify the party with his own conference speech on Tuesday if he is to have any hope of stopping the constant challenges to his authority.
