Pensioners were today being promised a minimum weekly income of £90 as Chancellor Gordon Brown sought to end Labour's nightmare fortnight.

But he was risking further party splits by refusing to restore the link between pensions and earnings.

Mr Brown was also expected to tell delegates he has asked the Low Pay Commission to report next year on an increase in the £3.70 minimum wage.

The Chancellor was sticking to his policy of targeting cash at the poorest pensioners and those with modest savings.

The Minimum Income Guarantee is to rise by £12 to £90 next April.

John Edmonds, leader of the GMB union, has warned that failing to restore the earnings link could cost Labour the next election.

But instead of using large sums of cash to solve the fuel crisis and pensions row, Mr Brown will seek to talk the Government out of trouble.

Ministers are to be sent out across the country to argue the case for resisting tax cuts to safeguard investment in public services.

Mr Brown was due to tell delegates at Labour's Brighton conference today: "Let no one be in any doubt - to achieve our goals requires the country to make a choice.

"Is our national priority to build long-term stability and invest in hospitals, schools and strong public services, or to take the Tory approach which will put both stability and public services at risk?

"There should now be a great national debate about this choice, not a debate simply conducted at Westminster nor a debate based in London."