UK: The extent to which the hostage crisis and the ongoing conflict in Iraq have overshadowed the Labour Party conference was laid bare yesterday as Chancellor Gordon Brown urged the party and the people of Britain to rally behind Mr Blair.
While Mr Brown's conference speech was plainly that of a leader in waiting - setting out his vision for a "progressive consensus" and telling the party its past achievements were "just a beginning" - the chancellor began his oration with a specific reference to the issue most pressing on the delegates here.
"Let me say first of all, the thoughts of everyone at this conference are with Ken Bigley and all his brave family. And all of us here - and I believe everyone throughout the country - will give and must give in these difficult times Tony Blair our full support," Mr Brown declared to warm applause and an appreciative acknowledgement from Mr Blair listening on the platform.
And Mr Blair was also bolstered yesterday by renewed support for his tough stand, and understanding for his political predicament, from the Conservative leader Mr Michael Howard.
In what is almost certainly thought to be his last conference speech before the general election, Mr Blair will seek to rally his party with the promise of further radical change in a third Labour term. He is expected to acknowledge Chancellor Brown's stewardship of the British economy and his conference demand yesterday that this be central to Labour's re-election campaign.
And he will attempt to switch the spotlight on to the domestic political agenda of education, health, transport and extra help for "hard-working families", with the message that the promised reform of Britain's public services is a work in progress.
However, anti-war critics who have successfully forced Thursday's debate on Iraq seem certain to be disappointed as Mr Blair again acknowledges mistakes made, particularly in relation to some of the intelligence used to justify the war, while refusing to apologise for the conflict itself.
Specifically it is understood Mr Blair will not admit to allied failures in planning for the post-conflict situation in Iraq. On the hostage crisis, as on the war, sources close to Mr Blair last night described him as "resolute".
On the evidence of his conference performance yesterday, there has been no lessening of Chancellor Brown's resolve to eventually succeed Mr Blair as prime minister. However, against the backdrop of a difficult international situation and with the general election hovering into view, there was no repeat of last year's attempt by Mr Brown to portray himself as the custodian of traditional as opposed to "New Labour" values.
To the contrary, Mr Brown placed himself firmly at the heart of the New Labour government's achievements as he called for "a progressive consensus" that could see Britain lead the world by example "as the first country of the global age where prosperity and justice advance together".
With speculation continuing as to when Mr Blair might choose to vacate 10 Downing Street, Mr Brown also signalled his readiness for the long term. "Have confidence - united in our values we will build the progressive consensus of prosperity and justice for all," he said. "Have confidence, our achievements are just a beginning: we have much more to do."
In his speech, Mr Brown focused first on the Treasury's performance on fostering economic stability. "From being the party not trusted with the economy, this conference should be proud that Labour is today the only party trusted with the economy," said Mr Brown.
He added: "We will never be complacent about stability. We must show at all times we have the discipline and strength to take the tough, long-term fiscal and monetary decisions for Britain.
"Because, with the economy central to people's concerns at this next election as at every election, that is the way to entrench and retain the trust of the people on the economy and pay for the much-needed reforms and investments in public services."
And Mr Brown emphasised that while the British economy must be modernised, he envisaged a society rooted firmly in Labour values.