Gordon Brown has led tributes to Nelson Mandela on his 90th Birthday. Writing on happybirthdaymandela.com the PM wrote -

"Nelson Mandela is a leader no prison cell, no intimidation, no threat could silence. A man whose belief in the future was so powerful that not even at 27 years behind bars and barbed wire could destroy his dream that millions could be free."

To celebrate Mandela’s 90th birthday we've decided to post his speech to Labour's centenary Annual Conference in 2000. To watch the video click here>>

Speaking to Conference Nelson Mandela said:

“Apartheid was experienced as such a basic onslaught against the human dignity that it demeaned all of us.

“The political parties in the major western countries had different approaches in there support for the freedom struggle in South Africa, but none could ever condone the racism of apartheid. There were however political parties and organisations in the Western Democracies with which the liberation movement developed a particularly strong solidarity relations.

This derived from a common approach to such social issues as poverty, and the primary concern for the marginalised. These relationships were built and consolidated in joint action and struggle with the solidarity forces in those countries. The Labour Party of Britain is one such organisation. It therefore gives us such great pleasure to join with you here today at your Party congress in the year that the Party celebrates its centenary. Allow me, in the first place, to convey my hearty congratulations to the Labour Party. I am certain that, I can do so on behalf of all the freedom loving people in our country who appreciate the extent that the attainment of democracy in South Africa, was also due to our solidarity partners internationally.

With you we can look back to the proud beginnings of your organisation; rooted in the concern to give organisational voice to those without power. To have sustained over a century such an organisation is a tribute not only to the Labour Party, its leadership and members – it is a testimony to the spirit that the world can be a better place for us all.”