The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, delivered a sustained attack on the Conservative Party in his keynote speech to the Scottish Labour conference in Edinburgh. He emphasised the achievements of the Labour government at Westminster in what was designed to be a warning to the rank and file not to relax if a second term was to be won.
"Our best years are yet to come," said the Prime Minister, urging party delegates to look to the future and ensure that Labour would remain in office. He contrasted the way Labour had handled the economy compared to the "boom and bust" years of the Conservatives. He said many of the achievements since the election in 1997 were won against fierce opposition from the Tories.
Labour could deliver all of its social policies only if given a second term. He called upon the rank and file not to start criticising but to proclaim the government's achievements to the voters.
Mr Blair made several sideswipes at the media. Earlier in the week he became the first guest politician to address the devolved Parliament in Edinburgh, when he criticised the corrosive cynicism of the Scottish media. The coalition government in Edinburgh has had a rocky ride in the tabloid press in particular. Labour insiders blame the bad press for its declining poll ratings.
At the beginning of the week the monthly poll for the Herald newspaper showed the Labour vote dipping below support for the Scottish National Party. Another poll for the Daily Record tabloid showed that Labour faced disaster in the Ayr by-election, the first to be held since the devolved parliament was established. It won the seat at the last election but now looks set to come third.
Commentators say Labour is merely blaming the messenger. The coalition government has run into numerous difficulties over spin-doctors, student tuition fees, the building of the new parliament and plans to scrap anti-homosexual legislation.
Labour's problems are not restricted to Scotland. An internal party document leaked to the papers last week reveals fears that one in five of traditional Labour voters may drop their support for the party. A Gallup poll for the Daily Telegraph confirms what appears to be a trend. Since last May satisfaction with the Prime Minister has fallen from 65 to 55 per cent. The government's "honest and trustworthy" ratings have fallen from 53 to 44 per cent, while the number of people who think the Labour Party is united has collapsed from over 55 to 35 per cent.