PM's wife backs her husband even if the country doesn't

Gordon Brown today pinned his hopes of political survival on an appeal to the 'squeezed middle classes' in his final conference speech before a general election.

The Prime Minister made a last-gasp plea to the vital middle-class vote as he insisted he had not run out of steam and was a leader for the future.

He accused the Conservatives of being heartless as he urged Labour to 'never, never stop believing' and unveiled a raft of new policies aimed at staving off political oblivion.

The hugely ambitious programme set out plans for free health care, free personal care for the elderly and a series of plans to address anti-social behaviour.

For the second year running, he was introduced by his wife Sarah. Her highly personal tribute, in which she described him as her 'hero', totally stole the limelight.

She admitted her husband was 'no saint' but insisted he would 'always, always' put British people first and was the right person to lead the country.

(PIC: Matt Sprake/NEWSPICS)

TV Paedo's school job

A child-SEX pervert whose capture was seen by millions of TV viewers last week got a job at a kids' nursery AFTER the show was filmed, The People can reveal.

ITV1's To Catch A Paedophile showed Andrew Smith, 32, being arrested last year as he tried to lure a girl of 13 to meet him.

Smith was jailed for 12 months and put on the sex offenders' register. But after being released early, the sickening pervert signed up with a recruitment agency and got a job as a chef at The Norwood Manor Nursery in West Norwood, South London.

(PIC: Matt Sprake/NEWSPICS)

Tattoo artists leave thier mark on the capital

Thousands of tattoo artists, piercing experts, fashion designers and body art fans from around the globe have descended on the capital for an annual convention.

The fifth outing of the London International Tattoo Convention is considered one of the main events in the European tattoo circuit. Fans queued round the block for over an hour to gain entry to the convention's new location at the Victorian Tobacco Dock in London's East End. And once the doors opened on Friday morning, it was down to serious business.

Hot on the heels of the 25th anniversary of London Fashion Week this is being hailed by the organisers as the next big cultural event of the season.

The 2009 convention bills itself as a celebration of an "alternative lifestyle". But nowadays more people seem to have a tattoo than not - ask around your office or friends, you would be surprised.

However, it still a bit of a leap from that drunken and well-hidden tattoo acquired as student to a wrist-to-shoulder job - the "sleeve".

(PIC: Zed Jameson/NEWSPICS)

Pixie keen on a duet

Pixie Lott has revealed that she would love to record a duet with James Morrison.

The Essex babe claims there are several people she would like to collaborate with in the future, but names Morrison as the person at the top of her list.

"I'd absolutely love to do a duet with James Morrison," she told Mizz. "That would be fantastic."
"There are loads of others, too. Stevie Wonder is one of my idols and Chris Martin from Coldplay. Oh, and Asher Roth, that new rapper. I think that'd be fresh!" She adds.

And when it comes to female artists, there are plenty of them that Pixie admits to admiring.
"Adele is my favourite female artist - just everything about her, her whole vibe! Christina Aguilera and Beyonce, too. And I like a lot of old stars as well."

(PIC: Matt Sprake/NEWSPICS)

Gary Glitter back in court

Sporting a pink blazer and black trilby, pedophile pop star Gary Glitter looked quite the dapper gent when he attended court in West London today.

The 'My gang' crooner was applying to have his passport returned after being banned from leaving the UK last year, at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court.

Leaving court this evening with his lawyer, Glitter looked calm and relaxed, smiling for photographers as he walked to a waiting car, it was a far cry from some of his bizarre outfits and disguises he's been spotted in lately.

(PIC: Matt Sprake/NEWSPICS)

Kelly Brook joins in 'SkyRide'

Boris Johnson was joined by cycling gold-medallist Chris Hoy and model Kelly Brook as he led more than 65,000 cyclists on a mass “Skyride” past some of the capital's most famous landmarks.

Many of the riders got into the spirit of the event, including one in an old-fashioned policeman's outfit and others seemingly hoping for some wind assistance sporting huge sails.

The Mayor described the event as the “climax of a summer of cycling”, in which he has launched initiatives to encourage more Londoners to cycle to work. Yesterday's nine-mile route took in Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London.

(PIC: Zed Jameson/NEWSPICS)

Are Katie and Alex engaged?

KATIE Price cheered on her new man Alex Reid as he won his cage fight last night - and sparked rumours the pair could wed by flashing a heart-shaped ring on her engagement finger.
The 2,000-strong crowd booed as it was announced the 34-year-old had won the three-round bout on points.

But undeterred, glamour model Katie - aka Jordan - stripped down to a tiny black G-string before changing into a little black dress with the words "The Champ" emblazoned in sequins on her chest. She then stepped into the cage to help Reid celebrate his win over Jack Mason.
Katie turned up for the fight at The Troxy in East London, with pal Michelle Heaton, sporting the eye-catching sparkler, with three central diamonds surrounded by a border of tiny gems. Reid, though, had to slum it by changing and warming up in a KITCHEN at the venue while Mason, 27, a City banker, was given an air-conditioned room.

Katie watched nervously, near Mason's girl Shannon Stile, 23, as their men slugged it out for three rounds in a Thai boxing middleweight title match.

During the first round, Katie held her handbag over her face as Mason - with the crowd chanting his name - landed blows to Reid's face and left him badly cut above an eye.

During the second round the fighters kneed each other.

But in the final round, Reid landing a few blows and the judges gave him the verdict.
Asked whether Jordan was engaged, pal Michelle laughed: "Not that I'm aware of. No, she's not engaged."

(EXCLUSIVE PIC: Matt Sprake/NEWSPICS)