When Tony Blair gave a speech to union chiefs in Brighton last night it didn't quite match up with hard-hitting advance extracts handed to the Press.

The Prime Minister made a fleeting visit to speak at a private function for top brass attending the TUC conference.

Journalists had been told Mr Blair was due to hammer home his get-tough message, letting union leaders know he was intent on pressing ahead with a series of reforms in public services.

In the extracts, Mr Blair was due to say: "The idea of a left-wing Labour government as the alternative to a moderate and progressive one is the abiding delusion of 100 years of our party. We are not going to fall for it again.

"Sensible trade unions and most Labour Party members know this government is doing its best for working people."

But union leaders among the 360 TUC delegates and officials at the De Vere Grand Hotel, where Mr Blair was joined by Chancellor Gordon Brown and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, later insisted Mr Blair did not make many of these comments during his speech.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said it was "extraordinary" that Mr Blair did not deliver the speech handed out to the media.

He said: "It is quite clear they are spinning certain messages. Those who thought the end of spin was nigh have been given a nasty shock. None of the language was used."

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, described the Prime Minister's speech as "warm" and was one of many officials surprised when shown details of the comments released to the media.

Downing Street confirmed last night that Mr Blair did not use the exact words in the text released to journalists but insisted that the underlying message had remained the same.

A spokeswoman said: "It may not have been exactly the words on the sheet but the central message was the same. There was no question of it backing down."

At least Mr Blair's visit pleased some people.

Commuters who shared the 5.07pm train from London noticed it was suspiciously punctual and unusually empty.

Annabel Hilder, 31, a daily commuter from Hove, sat just yards from the Prime Minister in the first-class carriage as she made her way home.

Miss Hilder said: "The train service is late nine times out of ten and is normally packed and very hot. There are usually 40 people in the section where Tony Blair was, some sitting and others standing.

"Often people are forced to stand up along the corridor but yesterday everyone had a seat. So I guess I must be grateful to Tony Blair for one thing at least."

A South Central spokesman said: "The Prime Minister made no specific request. He did not ask for the first-class section to be cordoned off."