Bono, the lead singer of U2, was the star turn in Brighton yesterday.

He told the Labour conference that ending extreme poverty, disease and despair "is one thing everybody can agree on".

He called on the prime minister to increase debt relief and aid to Africa and reform the common agricultural policy.

Elsewhere at the conference, Alan Milburn told a fringe meeting that Tony Blair had said he was the only man who could run the party's campaign for the next election.

"I had been saying to Tony that various things needed doing. It was one of these ridiculous positions where he finally got sold on the idea and then said, 'Well, there is only one person who can do that.'"

Health secretary John Reid used his conference address to announce that a chain of "commuter clinics" in main railway stations will be set up to relieve pressure on GPs.

He told delegates that this was part of the government's plans to "personalise" public services.

David Blunkett set out proposals for weekend jails to be expanded throughout England and Wales.

The home secretary told delegates that an additional 1,300 new spaces will be provided in existing prisons over the next 18 months.

And education secretary Charles Clarke pledged to reduce selection in secondary schools in an announcement seen as an attempt to address the concerns of grassroots party members.

Today, constitutional affairs secretary Lord Falconer is expected to tell the conference that the party's next manifesto will promise Lords reform beyond the abolition of the remaining 92 hereditary peers.