This morning's newspapers conclude Tony Blair's keynote address was a break from his usual routine, with a low key and conversational tone conveying a more contrite message.

The FT

James Blitz says there was little detail on plans for a radical third term, and "nothing here to upset Gordon Brown".

He adds that Blair understood "that he has caused a lot of pain to his followers".

And the paper's leading article warns that on a range of key issues the prime minister "remains trapped by his alliance with the US president".

Times

The paper's editorial describes Blair's address as "a defensive speech".

"The policies that he outlined have merit but, for the moment at least, they look more like a collection of worthy ideas than a compelling programme," the paper says.

Peter Riddell concludes that the speech has "changed very little" and warns that the prime minister's troubles "are far from over".

Guardian

The Guardian's political editor, Michael White, says that the speech should give Blair "political breathing space" unless Labour suffers a disastrous result in Hartlepool.

And the paper's leading article says that the prime minister "spoke to the whole nation, calmly and in a grown-up way".

"He could have shown defiance. Instead he offered dialogue," the paper continues.

"Time alone will tell whether this was simply a clever and polished performance or a genuinely new style of leadership."

Independent

The Independent's leading article says that it was a "surprisingly muted" speech and offered a "mostly realistic" appraisal of what Labour needs to do to win the next general election.

The paper's political commentator, Steve Richards, adds that the address "will not greatly change the political weather".

Telegraph

The paper's editorial berates "the dearth of ideas" but "says Blair demonstrated why he is still the political conjuror of the day".

"Yesterday's prime ministerial performance will be a hard act to follow, unless Mr Howard can deliver a speech that is not an act at all, but an honest attempt to address the real issues that keep 'hard-working families' awake at night," it adds.

Express

The Express delivers a hostile response to the speech. Its front page contrasts the prime minister's statement that the country is now more united on a range of issues with the protests over Iraq and fox hunting which also took place yesterday. It asks "which planet are you on Mr Blair?".

And its leading article adds that New Labour is "behaving like a ruling class and are just as out of touch as the last tsar of Russia".

It also slams Blair as "the frequently grinning prime minister" who "insulted the electorate by making a mealy-mouthed apology for leading us into war with Iraq".

Sun

The Sun says that while Blair has "much to be proud of", he also knows that its readers "expect things to get a whole lot better under his government".

The paper's political editor, Trevor Kavanagh, says that the prime minister "looked detached from his audience and the text he was delivering".

Mirror

The Mirror gives a broad welcome to the speech, saying that despite his difficulties Blair "bounced back with a sweeping vision for Labour's historic third term".

It adds that Labour "has delivered many things it promised at the past two elections".

"With the spirit Tony Blair showed yesterday, he can do it again."

Mail

The Daily Mail is less than impressed with Blair's speech.

Its leader concludes that "the dismal message from Brighton is that chameleon Blair sees nothing wrong with his past performance and offers nothing but more of the same".

Max Hastings adds that while the delivery was as "skilled as ever", the words were "stale and empty".