Brown sides with Blair after week of turmoil

BRIGHTON - Finance minister Gordon Brown said today he backed Prime Minister Tony Blair's controversial reform policies, as senior Labour politicians tried to stem a party leadership schism.

The ruling Labour party has been rocked this month by infighting over when Blair should stand down as leader and who should replace him.

Blair was forced last week to say he will resign within a year and doubt was then poured on whether Brown, his expected successor, was fit to take his place.

According to an advance copy of part of a private speech to trade union leaders in Brighton, Brown said reform was the only policy choice if Britain were to prosper in a rapidly changing global economy.

"My vision is by reform - where I support everything Tony Blair said (at the Trades Union Congress conference)," Brown said.

"And by emphasis on excellence and the highest of standards, to build better public services and in particular to meet the ambition to make Britain the most skilled and most educated workforce in the world."

Blair had earlier given his last speech to the annual TUC meeting, urging unions to rally behind Labour if it is to conquer a resurgent Conservative party at the next elections, expected in 2009.

Unions have warned Labour if it persists with broad job cuts, wage rise caps and creeping privatisation in public services - especially health care - it risks losing that election.

But Brown hinted a Labour government under his stewardship would not abandon NHS reforms.

"I urge all to support Tony Blair in what he said about our reforms in health so that we can show that a universal health service free to all at the point of need is renewed and reinvigorated through reform to serve the British people."

A senior Labour politician also called for solidarity in the party after a week of turmoil.

Northern Ireland minister Peter Hain said he backed Brown to win any leadership contest and put himself forward as a potential deputy party leader capable of helping to renew Labour and win back grass roots support.

"Nobody should or could beat Gordon for party leader next year," Hain told reporters. "He's the twin architect of Labour's success."

- REUTERS