The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, yesterday put jobs and growth at the top of the agenda for Britain's presidency of EU which starts in January. "I'll tell you what our mission is," he said. "It is to give Europe back to the people." He also promised that jobs and growth would be the most important priorities when the decision is taken on joining a single currency.
Mr Cook has made no secret in the past of his reservations about Europe, and especially about a single currency, although he has always insisted they are pragmatic rather than fundamental. Recently he has appeared less hostile, prompting speculation that Britain could join soon after the first wave in January 1999.
He told conference: "The government of Britain is no longer standing on the sidelines of Europe. You don't score any goals standing on the sidelines." He promised that the British presidency would "lay the foundations of a Europe for the people".
He also put attacking organised crime high on the list of priorities. But he ruled out the idea of setting up a Europe-wide police force. Instead there will be discussions aimed at eliminating technical difficulties in pursuing drug smugglers across borders and other practical measures.
Mr Cook also expanded on his promise of an "ethical" foreign policy, beyond the issue of the arms trade. Acknowledging that he could not make a perfect world, he insisted that supporting human rights would make a difference.
Promising to give a lead on the environment and on aid, he was given a standing ovation when he ended: "I want our people to be proud of our country. Not proud because other countries are afraid of our might. Not proud because we can look back to a past of imperial glory. But proud of the future place we can give Britain in the world."
The Defence Secretary, Mr George Robertson, had announced the creation of a mines information and training centre within his department - to spread British military expertise on de-mining among civilians.
He told delegates: "The British army is among the world leaders in military de-mining and in Bosnia and elsewhere has demonstrated that its skills and experience can be applied in support of humanitarian de-mining operations as well. I intend to build on that by increasing the assistance which the army gives to those involved in humanitarian de-mining." His cabinet colleagues, Ms Clare Short and Mr Cook, told Labour activists in Brighton said that they will double the sums available for global mine clearance to £10 million a year.
Mr Cook also disclosed that he had invited France to join Britain in proposing a European code of conduct to regulate the arms trade after talks with his counterpart in Paris, Mr Hubert Vedrine. France and Germany are now backing the drive towards a global ban on such mines under the proposed Ottawa Treaty. Britain banned them when Labour came to power in May.
Ms Short, the International Aid Secretary, was rewarded with a standing ovation for her commitment to focus on programmes that help the world's poorest people.
On a morning when the Labour leadership fought off pressure to cut defence spending still further - and a call to abandon the Trident nuclear fleet was easily defeated - the emotional high point came in the speech from Dr Frank Ryding, a Red Cross doctor with 17 years' experience dealing with the death and injury caused by mines.
"I've seen thousands, including a young boy with severe stomach injuries and a leg blown away above the knee by a mine. It took his father three days to transport him in a wheelbarrow through Afghan mountain passes to the nearest Red Cross hospital," he said.
Pleading with the conference to help "put me out of a job", Dr Ryding said 70 countries were littered with 100 million mines - some dropped from planes at the rate of 2,000 in 15 minutes - and that as many were in stockpiles waiting to be dropped. Some 2,000 people a year were killed or maimed, he said.
Alan Travis reports: Judges will be given the power to pass heavier sentences for any crime in which there is a racial element under detailed proposals unveiled yesterday by the Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw. His announcement goes further than the Government's manifesto commitment to give them power to add up to two years in prison to the sentences of those convicted of racially motivated violence or harassment.
Mr Straw said the wider powers were needed because racist crimes, such as the killing of a south London teenager, Stephen Lawrence, were among the most despicable offences.