Iraq haunts Blair at hostile party conference

BOURNEMOUTH - British Prime Minister Tony Blair faced the wrath of anti-war members of his ruling Labour Party yesterday as the Iraq conflict dominated the toughest party conference of his leadership.

Furious delegates accused party chiefs of blocking a vote on the Iraq war, sparing Blair what could have been a damaging defeat over a policy that has destroyed his public trust ratings and provoked calls within Labour for his resignation.

"With the world divided, the United Nations divided, our country divided and our party divided, it would be inexplicable if we did not have a debate on this crucially important issue," said Tony Woodley, head of the Transport and General Workers' Union, one of the party's main backers.

Conference rebels, emboldened by Blair's dismal ratings, may still defeat him in votes on controversial plans to reform healthcare and pensions, while disillusioned left-wingers are urging the centre-left party to return to its grassroots.

Some suggested arch-moderniser Blair should step aside for Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, seen as more in tune with Labour's left-leaning roots and the unions, the party's traditional bankrollers.

Brown failed to cool tempers at the annual conference, backing Blair on Iraq and signalling new economic reforms that could put him on a collision course with powerful unions.

His keynote speech to the conference sounded more like that of a leader-in-waiting than a technocrat finance minister.

"I believe more than ever that the Labour Party does not exist for itself but for larger and nobler purposes," he said.

"I believe that at every point in our history Labour needs not just a programme but a soul."

Brown echoed Blair's message that there would be no about-turn on the reform path.

He said he would press ahead with labour market reform and "regional reform", a reference to regional pay bargaining that is opposed by the unions.

"The issue is not whether we reform, we must do so," the stern Scot told his party faithful.

Blair's Government is going through the worst patch of his six-year tenure following the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - the main justification he gave for war.

Former Cabinet minister Clare Short, who resigned over Iraq, said yesterday the war had increased the threat of terrorism.

"We've blown it badly," she said.

"Our authority in the international community is massively reduced, and in Europe."

Blair will address the conference today.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq