Blair: Dual challenge

Tony Blair has put his party on an election footing by setting out Labour's "third term mission".

Addressing Labour's annual conference, the prime minister said Labour was "united in our values" and "proud in our record".

Saying he was optimistic about the future, Blair went on: "With the courage of our convictions, we can win the third term.

"Deliver the lasting change. It is worth the fight. Now let's get out and do it."

The Labour leader said a third parliamentary term would secure "lasting change" in Britain - comments which sparked speculation that he will stand down before fighting a fourth general election.

The hour long oration was lighter on soundbites than previous speeches, but typically contained few new announcements.

Under the shadow of the continuing Iraq hostage crisis there was also little triumphalism, with the prime minister and his wife declining to linger on the stage to receive their traditional standing ovation.

The prime minister began his keynote speech to the Brighton conference on a sombre note, paying tribute to the families of the latest British causalities in Iraq and the family of hostage Kenneth Bigley.

But his address was interrupted by protests from the conference floor -  an anti-war demonstrator was removed before the speech resumed.

More protestors, believed to be angered by the fox hunting ban, were later forcibly removed from the hall after they broke cover to disrupt the prime minister.

Reform agenda

But back in his stride the prime minister said he wanted to "change Britain for better and change it for good".

Blair said he would "widen the circle of opportunity by low mortgage rates, rising living standards and more jobs in every region of the UK".

And setting out a 10-point pledge list, he pledged to offer every parent "the choice of a good specialist school".

Labour, he said, would build a society where "we put the same commitment to quality vocational skills as we do academic education, with new vocational courses at school".

On health he set out a commitment to all patients being able to choose their hospital, and book the time and date for treatment.

He said maximum waiting times would come down from 18 months to 18 weeks.

"There they are: ten pointers to what a
third-term Labour government would do for Britain's hard-working families," said Blair.

"Don't tell me that's not worth fighting for; a stronger, fairer, more prosperous nation.

"And now we have to go out and win the trust of the people to do it."

Choice

In a wide-ranging speech, the prime minister defended the pursuit of "choice" in the public services.

"Sometimes I hear people describe 'choice' as a Tory word," he said.

"It reminds me of when I first used to knock on doors as a canvasser and was told if they owned their own home they were Tories."

"Choice is not a Tory word. Choice dependent on wealth; those are the Tory words.

"The right to demand the best and refuse the worst and do so not by virtue of your wealth but your equal status as a citizen, that's precisely what the modern Labour Party should stand for."

To deal with the pensions crisis, the prime minister vowed to deliver "security and dignity for everyone in retirement".

Brown praised

After the morning's headlines proclaimed splits between the prime minister and chancellor, Blair praised Gordon Brown as a "friend of 20 years".

The prime minister said he was "lucky to have a Cabinet of talented men and women I'm proud to call friends as well as colleagues".

"I won't list them all. You know who they are. They know how much I value what they do," he said.

"But I will mention the two who have been with me, in opposition and in government in the same jobs every step of the way.

"Gordon and John [Prescott], the one a personal friend for 20 years and the best chancellor this country has ever had and the other the strongest, most loyal... deputy any leader could ever wish for."

Blair also praised London mayor Ken Livingstone for leading and winning "the debate on congestion charging and community policing".