Gordon Brown tells conference delegates that the government will double its social housing spending

Gordon Brown underlined the government’s commitment to funding on social housing today as he addressed the labour conference in a speech which was greeted by a standing ovation by delegates.

Gordon Brown confirmed the government would double its social housing spend to cope with increases in the rental market. He also said the government would expand shared equity affordable housing.

Brown addressed the issue of migrant workers saying all migrants including Romanian and Bulgarian workers would be expected to learn English.

The speech, in which he said he would “relish the opportunity to take on David Cameron and the conservative party,” capped a morning of debate on trade and industry. Addressing the floor Amicus general secretary Derek Simpson earlier called on the government to end the exploitation of “vulnerable agency workers”.