Blair fends off Iraq revolt

The Prime Minister avoided a damaging defeat when delegates voted by 86 per cent to 14 per cent to reject a motion calling on Mr Blair to set an early date for withdrawing the troops.

In a card vote yesterday, they instead endorsed a statement by Labour's ruling national executive committee (NEC), recognising British forces would stay as long as the Iraqi government wanted them to.

The vote was taken after a debate during which Kurd exile Shanaz Rashid thanked Mr Blair for deposing Saddam Hussein and begged him not to withdraw troops.

Although the move will be a relief to the Labour leadership, the unions - who sided with it - said it effectively meant the Government was now signed up to a timetable to end the British presence in Iraq.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said backing the troops out motion would mean abandoning the Iraqi people.

In a debate which Mr Blair listened to from the platform, Mr Hoon said it was vital for the troops to stay to help improve the lives of the Iraqi people, rebuilding schools and providing security.

He said: "We must stay the course and see the job through."

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, in his address to the conference, quoted an Iraqi trade unionist in saying "an early date for the unilateral withdrawal of troops would be bad for my country, bad for the emerging progressive forces, a terrible blow for free trade unionism, and would play into the hands of extremists and terrorists."

The NEC statement said British troops remained in Iraq "only at the request of the Iraq government". It said the United Nations mandate for the multinational forces would end by December 2005.

The vote was taken after a week which, against the wishes of the leadership, was dominated by Iraq.

Deputy Prime Minster John Prescott brought the Labour Party conference to a close by railing against pro-hunt protesters.

During his closing speech in the Brighton Centre, he dismissed the protesters as "braying people" who defended the "savage tearing apart of foxes by packs of dogs, just for enjoyment".

He criticised protesters who plunged a stake through a horse's heart and dumped its carcass outside Brighton station, saying: "How can people who claim to care for the countryside drag dead horses through the streets of this city and call it legitimate protest?

"Why do they always want to kill animals? I say loud and clear to the fox-hunters: You live in a Parliamentary democracy, you lost the argument, now respect what is soon to be the law."

In a speech peppered with jokes at the expense of the Tory and Lib Dem leaders Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy, Mr Prescott made just one reference to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Referring to the various protest marches which have taken place throughout the week, he said: "Anyone notice the new theme this week? It's animals.

"First was the Brighton football club, the Seagulls - marching for a new stadium. Then came Jaguar, and I can declare an interest here as the proud owner of a very old one - just one, mind."

Mr Prescott warned Labour voters against complacency in the run-up to the next election and dismissed talk of an historic third term being in the bag.

He said: "Conference, I've got to tell you that's not just complacent, it's dangerous. It's arrogant.

"It's arguing over the spoils of victory while the battle's going on."

He said Tory leader Michael Howard was "unelectable" and warned a Conservative Government would mark a return to boom and bust, mass unemployment and "rotting" schools.

Mr Prescott said Lib Dems would "say anything" to get elected.

He said: "Liberals will never get into No 10 through the front door. All they could ever do is open the back door for the Tories.

"Democratic socialism moves us forward, Conservatism always takes us back. Labour is about change - change for the better."

Urging delegates to get out and meet the voters face to face, he said the choice was "Labour or the Tories, the future not the past, jobs not unemployment".

He said: "We have the best team. We have the best ideas. We have the right values. So let this great movement of ours join together in solidarity. Let us win that historic third term."

Introducing Mr Prescott, Mary Turner, who chairs the NEC, invited the conference to applaud the organisations responsible for the smooth running of the conference.

Sussex Police, Brighton Centre staff, Brighton and Hove City Council, staff at The Grand and Hilton Metropole hotels and the people of Brighton were praised.

Earlier, Robin Cook was addressing a much smaller audience at a fringe meeting when he complained about the media quizzing him about yet more reports of a Blair-Brown rift.

The former Foreign Secretary said: "Journalists are always asking me 'Do you get on well with Gordon Brown?' I can say now, yes, I do have a good relationship with Gordon.

"Do I get on well with Peter Mandelson? That's more complex."

Not everyone was as careful with their words yesterday.

At a fringe meeting on Crossrail earlier in the day the Today programme presenter John Humphrys opened the floor to questions, then struggled to identify the sex of an audience member.

He said: "You sir, the woman at the back. Oh, you are a man. The man at the back. This is as embarrassing as it gets."

The week's proceedings ended with a bout of flag waving as delegates joined Tony Blair in the traditional end-of-conference singalong.

A rendition of the Labour Party anthem The Red Flag was led by opera singer Suzannah Clarke and nine singing steelworkers dubbed the Heavy Metal Opera from Redcar on Teesside.

When it came to the finale, a surprised Tony Blair was invited to join the group to sing Jerusalem. Declining to open himself to the public scrutiny of using a microphone, Mr Blair took his place in the choir where he appeared to struggle with the words to the first verse.

Mr Prescott had no such problems, however. He didn't sing at all.

Prime Minister Tony Blair was in hospital today for treatment for a recurring heart condition.

Mr Blair arrived at Hammersmith Hospital in west London looking relaxed and said he was "fine", before being driven away from Downing Street just after 7am with wife Cherie.

The 51-year-old premier faces a two-and-a-half-hour procedure to cure a heart arrhythmia problem.

He is expected to return to work soon and still plans to make an official visit to Ethiopia next week.

Yesterday, Mr Blair vowed for the first time that he would serve a full third term, if elected, and then stand down.

Nevertheless, a separate announcement that the Blairs have bought a luxury London home further fuelled speculation that he could resign before his chosen departure date.