<p><br /> Among the audience for Ed Miliband's big speech was Gillian Duffy, the Rochdale woman whose encounter with his predecessor Gordon Brown was one of the low-points of Labour's election campaign.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Miliband picked Mrs Duffy out of the crowd for a handshake and a chat as he left the stage following his address.<br /> </p><p><br /> Their meeting was a more amicable affair than the Labour-supporting pensioner's exchange with Mr Brown - after which the former Prime Minister notoriously branded her "bigoted", unaware his microphone was still live.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mrs Duffy has attended the Labour conference as the guest of a TV company, and spoke briefly with Mr Miliband over the weekend.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mrs Duffy told Mr Miliband his speech had been "very good, very good - smashing", according to ITV News. He replied: "Thank you. I look forward to seeing you."<br /> </p><p><br /> Speaking to ITV News after the speech, she added: "He's lovely. He's young and we need someone young to get us going again. I thought he came across really well. From Saturday until now he's really matured again. He's really giving himself to the conference. I think we'll win next time."<br /> </p><p><br /> Asked whether Mr Miliband appeared to agree with her on immigration - on which she famously questioned Mr Brown - Mrs Duffy said: "Most probably yes, it was very good."<br /> </p><p><br /> His staff said he was still hoping to have the time to fit in a cup of tea with her before the conference ends on Thursday.<br /> </p>
