Frank Millar
in Bournemouth
Nostalgic Labour delegates sang the Red Flag yesterday at the conclusion of a Bournemouth conference which Mr Tony Blair dedicated to "renewal" in government in preparation for a historic third term.
Acclaimed soprano Suzannah Clarke swept to the rostrum in a floor-length red gown to lead the singing of the decidedly "Old Labour" anthem, making its return after a three-year absence from the end-of-conference proceedings.
But if "the people's flag" remained "deepest red", the modernising Mr Blair was doubtless gratified that most delegates needed a print-out of the words to remind them.
More uplifting by far for Mr Blair was a tub-thumping speech from his deputy prime minister, Mr John Prescott, which combined cruel mockery of the Conservative leader, Mr Iain Duncan Smith, with a stern call for discipline from a party which on Wednesday gave Mr Blair a bloody nose over foundation hospitals and forced the platform to retreat yesterday, this time over company pensions.
In one of the few actual policy announcements of the week, the pensions minister, Mr Andrew Smith, promised final payouts of up to £30,000 for people delaying their retirement until 70. However, in keeping with the general style of a conference longer on aspiration than delivery, the Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, pledged a further crackdown on gun crime - in a third Labour term. "Two terms isn't enough to prepare Britain for the century ahead," declared Mr Blunkett.
As is now traditional, the last day belonged to Mr Prescott, who chided the media for last weekend's headlines predicting "a week of reversals" for the leadership. "We've only had a couple," he observed: "And we know why, don't we? We haven't got a reverse gear, have we Tony?"
Mr Blair laughed along and then listened intently as Mr Prescott in turn condemned Labour MPs who used the media to attack the government and issued what was taken to be an appeal for an end to the feud between Chancellor Gordon Brown and the prime minister.
In what could be regarded as a direct reproach to Mr Brown, Mr Prescott declared: "This party knows, the whole country knows, that these two achieve more by their common endeavour than they do alone."
Turning to the "real enemy", Mr Prescott mocked Conservative leader Mr Iain Duncan Smith over press reports that he's had a £100,000 makeover on everything from his speech to his hand gestures.
"I'll give him a hand gesture," offered the cabinet's ranking bruiser: "It's old, it's traditional and it's the same gesture the British people will give him and the rest of his gang at the next general election."