Blair syndrome part....

It was the kind of speech that Gordon Brown wasn't hoping for!

Whether you love or hate Tony Blair, political journos of all colours and pursuasions will be hailing this speech as one of the greatest fairwell speeches of all time.

Tony Blair graced the party faithful in Manchester not with the kind of speech that suggests he is leaving, but a punchy passionate, peice of oratory that suggests he wants to go on and on and on - if only he could.

But the fact is, he isn't, as Blair will probably be handing the reigns to his successor in 8 months or so time.

The speech was a mixture of reminiscing, as well as looking to the future, but no mention of who that future will be!

On terrorism he was adamant that it was not the west's fault, and also re- affirmed that the west was not at war with Islam, only with terrorists who want to wage war on democracy and what it represents.

He stepped up to the podium and was greeted to a standing ovation as he made a series of Academy style award thank-you's including a half hearted tribute to Gordon Brown.

Watching from the sidelines was a whimperish John Prescott,  and his likely would be- successor Gordon Brown.

His speech praised the work of teachers, doctors, and his reforms on education and the health service.

In candid acknowledgement, he said: 'The British people can forget wrong decisions, but they can never forgive indecisiveness.'

He also made a scathing attack on David Cameron on the Tories, claiming they were putting party expediency before the welfare of Britian and refuted the Lib Dems as all talk.

Clapping from the sidelines was the main contender for the leadership whose facial expressions could be regarded as a shade of dissolusion as his party speech yesterday failed to trump up the party faithful.

Tony failed to assert any direct mention of Gordon becoming the next PM, and instead his speech was an attempt at wooing back some of the rebels he had lost to some of his driving reforms.

Blair ended his speech in a sentimental fairwell, spinning the line that Cameron once used in the House of Commons, 'You were the future, once,' to which Blair neatly reversed.

He said to the Party members: 'You are the future now, make the most of it.'