Gordon Brown has vowed to win back the support of Brighton and Hove's disenchanted Labour voters.

The Chancellor, who is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister next month, said the city would benefit from a series of improvements under his leadership.

He spoke of his hope that Brighton and Hove Albion's search for a new stadium would soon be over and gave the clearest hint yet that the Government would step up pressure on the US to allow Brighton Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Deghayes a fair trial.

Speaking exclusively to The Argus before a Brighton Festival literary event yesterday, Mr Brown said: "We'll be talking in the next few months about health, schools, the environment and housing and how people can get on the housing ladder, which is an important issue for Brighton.

"All of these will have an important impact on this city."

More than 1,500 members of the public paid £10 to attend a talk entitled Gordon Brown: The Man Behind The Politics.

The question and answer session at the Dome Concert Hall with film director A n t h o n y Minghella was to promote his new book, Courage.

Mr Brown was applauded on to the stage and looked comfortable as he related anecdotes, made jokes and drew laughs from the audience.

But just two days after he announced he would stand for leadership of his party, attention inevitably turned to how he would lead the country if Labour voted him in.

The Chancellor spoke about the importance of i n t e r n a t i o n a l debt relief, c o m b a t i n g extremism by encouraging moderatism, the environment and his belief in the importance of liberty, civic duty and investing in culture.

While Mr Brown has refused to accept he is a certainty to move into No 10, the public was under no such illusion.

He was greeted in the pouring rain at the Dome by several groups of protesters.

About 20 were calling for him to take action to tackle soaring house prices in Brighton and Hove and nationally and a dozen called for an end to the war in Iraq and freedom for Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Deghayes.

Save The Children and public sector union PCS both tried to make their case. There were even some pre-emptive chants of "Brown out".

Inside the event Mr Brown faced tough questions on his stance on nuclear weapons, the war in Iraq and several local issues.

Labour members of Brighton and Hove City Council said the visit was a welcome boost.

They had lost nine seats and a majority on the council as the party was trounced in the local elections on May 3.

Acting Labour group leader Gill Mitchell said: "We have enjoyed the chance to speak to him. I spoke to him at length about housing. I am hoping that the Government under Gordon Brown will increase the requirement for affordable housing in new developments from 25 per cent to 40 per cent, as we have insisted on it being in this city."

Hove MP Celia Barlow said she would be backing Mr Brown in his leadership campaign.

Earlier, the Chancellor and his wife and children met Labour supporters at the Kemp Town home of Lord Steve Bassam.