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Divisions resurface as Blair calls for unity

Today's front pages analyse the turf war being played out at the Labour conference.

Tony Blair will today urge his party to unite behind a radical manifesto for the third term but senior ministers are continuing to feud in public over the government's direction.

The chancellor used his speech to conference on Monday to set out his own vision for the third term, and reiterated that he wants the next election campaign to be fought on his own record of the economy.

In a passionate oration that won a warm standing ovation from delegates, Brown said the dedication of NHS staff proved there were values "far beyond those of contracts and markets".

However, speaking shortly after the chancellor's speech, new election supremo Alan Milburn told a fringe meeting that simply "screaming louder and louder" about Labour's past achievements would not be enough.

"In an atmosphere of greater cynicism and frankly more distrust, simply screaming louder and louder about our achievements in the past is not necessarily the way to get through to the public," he said.

In his own keynote address, Blair will call for the party to show unity in its commitment to help the Iraqis build a secure future.

But he will admit that mistakes were made in the run-up to war.

He will say to people who opposed him over the war that there is far more at stake at the election, including public services and jobs.

A "close ally" of the prime minister told the Independent: "He will set out our offer to the people on which we seek a further term. It will be an agenda for an entire third term, and one he intends to implement."

Published: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 07:44:35 GMT+01