Tony Blair delivered his final Labour Party conference speech as British prime minister today paying tribute to his potential successor Gordon Brown as "a remarkable man".
elegates to the Labour Party conference post their thoughts on Tony Blair on a cut-out of him
Speaking at the conference in Manchester Mr Blair went on to say Mr Brown was a "remarkable servant to this country — and that is the truth.
He urged his party to focus on re-election by adapting to new political challenges, hoping to end a succession row overshadowing its annual conference.
Mr Blair listed the achievements of nearly a decade in office but warned members they had to unite and embrace change to tackle global issues such as climate change, organised crime and terrorism to win a fourth straight election, expected in 2009.
"The scale of the challenges now dwarfs what we faced in 1997," he said. "Ten years on, this party faces the real test of leadership: not about what we've achieved in the past but what we can achieve for Britain's future."
Mr Blair's popularity in the UK has dwindled over his commitment to the US-led war on Iraq, his policies in the Middle East and his pro-market reforms.
Labour hoped the Manchester rally would draw a line under infighting over the succession but a reported slur by Mr Blair's wife Cherie against Chancellor Brown broke a fragile truce yesterday.
Mr Blair made light of the reported remarks and acknowledged the role Mr Brown had played but fell short of endorsing him as his successor.
"I know New Labour would never have happened, and three election victories would never have been secured without Gordon Brown," he said to loud applause.
Mr Blair was forced to say this month he would resign within a year to stem a party revolt, ceding ground in a power struggle with Mr Brown that has scarred their relationship.