"Labour luvvies" (as Mr Tony Blair observed on Tuesday), find a ready put-down from the "sneering" tendency. But if New Labour's luvvieism were enough, the political problems of Northern Ireland would have dissolved like so much early snow in the Winter Gardens yesterday.
Certainly delegates left no doubt about their determination to love, nay beatify, Mo Mowlam. Mr Blair's "one and only Mo" won her second standing ovation in as many days. She modestly (and delightedly) insisted the first ovation was not for her, but for all those who helped secure the Belfast Agreement, and above all, for the people of Northern Ireland who had embraced it.
That Good Friday spirit of inclusivity came to Blackpool yesterday. And if it gave us images once unthinkable - and certainly unprecedented at the annual conference of any governing party - it cannot have left David Trimble or Seamus Mallon in any doubt about the potency of office.
Some thought much of the British press treatment of Mr Blair's big speech terribly sycophantic. But you'd be hard pressed to dispute the view of one commentator yesterday that the Northern Ireland settlement provides a powerful illustration of this government's "can do" quality.
It showed us just what it could do yesterday, bringing together on one platform Mr Blair, Dr Mowlam, Mr Mallon, chairwoman Clare Short (once demonised by some unionists) and David Trimble (until lately regarded by many delegates here as the demon of Drumcree).
And in the full spirit of generosity, it rewarded the First Minister and Deputy First Minister with their own standing ovations. Some wry observers may have chortled to think it might even have conspired to "put some manners" on Mr Trimble.
The Ulster Unionist leader is not notoriously fond of Dr Mowlam. And the cameras caught him on Tuesday afternoon joining that first great ovation with something less than total enthusiasm. But full participation was the order of the day. This was Mo's show, gaffes and all.
Everybody laughed when she paid tribute to Gary McMichael of the "Ulster Defence . . . sorry, Ulster Democratic Party". And everybody clapped when she mentioned John Hume, "who has given so much over the years". The eyes moved swiftly to search Mr Trimble's response when Dr Mowlam looked forward to the 30th anniversary of the civil rights movement - but the audience missed that invitation for another round of applause, and the moment passed.
As did the moment for the healing kiss. As Mo finished her speech the audience rose and Mr Trimble, taking his cue from Mr Blair, moved forward to greet her. Seamus embraced her first, with a kiss on both cheeks. The Prime Minister offered one. And from a smiling Mr Trimble . . . a handshake. Even the power of Labour luv, it seemed, was not without its limits.