Vote 2010: Defiant Labour leader up for fight

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But for all the enthusiasm Mr Brown has thrown into the campaign so far, a key criticism has been that events seem to be packed with Labour sympathisers.

While Tory leader David Cameron has been standing on crates in a brewery and taking questions from workers in a bread factory, Mr Brown has been dropping in on friendly households for a cup of tea and a plea to spread the word.

But yesterday he followed in the footsteps of Mr Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg by appearing in front of an audience of Yorkshire Post readers, beamed out live by the nation's broadcasters.

There was no hiding place on Floor 13 of the City Inn in Leeds – a venue boasting panoramic views of the city chosen by the Labour party – and no guarantee of a friendly reception.

Those with experience of interviewing Mr Brown and witnessing him in Press conferences will vouch for me when I say that he is often not the most willing participant. He can often be short-tempered and can appear to have little time for awkward questioning.

Yet for all the strains of a week on the election trial – and the pressure building in advance of tonight's televised debate – Mr Brown appeared in relaxed mood, perhaps energised by getting out of Whitehall and knowing that the next three weeks will determine his political future.

By election day, the official handshake count will be truly impressive as he seeks to press the flesh with as many voters as possible to try to give them a personal glimpse which, to his irritation, he feels us media types do not allow to be portrayed.

Yesterday it was the turn of customers in the bar outside the conference room as well as members of the audience.

Having finally taken his seat, he kicked off, at his request, with an address to the audience, a spiel about Labour offering the right answers which will be repeated many times before the final vote is cast.

But then control was taken out of his hands, and while there may have been the odd awkward wince when a tougher question was fired and a sidestep when more uncomfortable questions were posed, he showed he was up for the fight.

Not that he was in a mood for compromise.

Questioned over whether we can trust anything in this latest Labour manifesto given the broken promises – included in the 2005 document – of a referendum on an EU constitution and not increasing the higher rate of income tax, he launched a passionate defence of his decisions. It will have done little to convince doubtful voters, but you can't knock the fire in the belly.

Asked whether he should have expressed his regret over not ensuring better banking regulation sooner – following his admission in an interview in Tuesday's newspapers – he was defiant, blaming the media for cooking up another non-story and the Americans for giving dodgy credit ratings.

When right-to-die campaigner Debbie Purdy challenged him over assisted suicide – he only found out she was among the audience minutes before the event began – for the first time in person, he gave an insight into how much he had considered the issue, albeit coming to a different conclusion from Ms Purdy.

There was the odd flashpoint, rejecting claims he had leaked a Government-commissioned report on drinks pricing and facing condemnation of Labour's record on education, but he refused to be blown off course and gave a display that may not have won over those who have lost faith but suggested he is in no mood to give up this election.

By the end he could happily joke about it being a bigger test than tonight's much anticipated first televised leader's debate, but he knows inside that however many rules may be imposed, facing Messrs Cameron and Clegg will be altogether more daunting.

It was difficult to find much from yesterday's appearance that will have swayed his election chances one way or the other – but one slip tonight will be altogether different.