Penitential Blair changes style in bid to woo British electorate

Britain: British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair yesterday attempted to revive his relationship with the electorate in a speech…

Britain: British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair yesterday attempted to revive his relationship with the electorate in a speech designed to heal political wounds as the general election approaches.

Speaking in a confessional tone at the end of the Labour party's spring conference, he promised to learn from his mistakes and accepted that he had, at times, appeared arrogant and out of touch. "I understand why some people feel angry, not just over Iraq, but many of the difficult decisions we have made," he said. "And, as ever, a lot of it is about me." Describing himself as part of a troubled relationship with the British people, he promised he would mend his ways if elected for a third term.

Mr Blair promised that he had abandoned the "I know best" approach for a true partnership with the public which acknowledged that "we can only do it together".

Mr Blair's contrition is in stark contrast to his claim at Labour's autumn conference in 2003 that he did not possess "a reverse gear" and reflects Labour anxiety that his style is deterring voters.

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His speech came as the deputy prime minister, John Prescott, gave the heaviest hint yet that Mr Blair is planning to call the election for May 5th.

Teasing his audience, he said: "May 5th is the focus of the election date." He paused before adding, "For the county council elections, of course". He then said: "But if anything else comes along on that day, we are ready for it, are we not?"

Mr Blair made repeated references to what he said he had learned from his visits to communities around the country.

"The best policy comes from a true partnership between government and people," he said. He argued that he had moved on from two previous phases of his leadership - courting popularity for its own sake, and then governing as if only "I know best".

Ditching the determined rhetoric of the height of the Iraq war, he said: "I learned that when I'm working hard, doing my damnedest and wondering, frustrated, why people can't appreciate the delivery, it's so easy to forget life is still so tough for so many people, a real-life daily struggle, not for a life of luxury, but just to get by."

Urging Labour not to be complacent in the coming election, he said: "Where we have lost support, we go out and try and win it back. Where we have lost friends, we try to persuade them to come back to the fold. Where we have made mistakes, we say so."

But he offered no apology on Iraq, saying it may be best to disagree, though he believed that the eight million people voting in the Iraq elections might change minds.

In what his aides said was his most personal speech since taking power, he said he thought continually about his relationship with the British people. He said: "I learned that the best policy comes not from courting popularity or mere conviction, but comes from partnership between politics and people. People don't expect miracles, but they do demand dialogue." - (Guardian Service)

* U2 distanced themselves from Mr Blair yesterday after he came on stage to strains of Beautiful Day. A spokeswoman for the band said afterwards: "We are flattered they like our tune, but this is not an official endorsement of the Labour Party". - (PA)