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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Blair faces unions for last time | Blair faces unions for last time |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair is set for a rough ride as he gives his last speech to the Trades Union Congress as prime minister. | |
| Mr Blair is addressing union delegates in Brighton amid continued speculation about his leadership, despite vowing to be out of No 10 by this time next year. | Mr Blair is addressing union delegates in Brighton amid continued speculation about his leadership, despite vowing to be out of No 10 by this time next year. |
| He is expected to get, at best, a lukewarm reception from unions angry at the "privatisation" of public services. | |
| Mr Blair will use his speech to urge people to be "strong, not scared" in facing globalisation and terrorism. | Mr Blair will use his speech to urge people to be "strong, not scared" in facing globalisation and terrorism. |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown, seen as Mr Blair's most likely successor, will address union bosses behind closed doors at a private dinner. | Chancellor Gordon Brown, seen as Mr Blair's most likely successor, will address union bosses behind closed doors at a private dinner. |
| Public services | Public services |
| The prime minister joked last week that it would be a relief for him and the unions that this would be his last TUC conference. | |
| He may use his speech to restate his appeal for an end to the infighting that has dogged Labour in the past week. | He may use his speech to restate his appeal for an end to the infighting that has dogged Labour in the past week. |
| On Monday, the TUC attacked Mr Blair's reform agenda on public services, in particular moves to hive off services to private firms, and voiced concerns about the government's pensions policy. | On Monday, the TUC attacked Mr Blair's reform agenda on public services, in particular moves to hive off services to private firms, and voiced concerns about the government's pensions policy. |
| Mr Blair has previously said he has no "reverse gear" and is likely to mount a weighty defence of his policies when he addresses delegates. | Mr Blair has previously said he has no "reverse gear" and is likely to mount a weighty defence of his policies when he addresses delegates. |
| Open-society plea | Open-society plea |
| Downing Street said his main theme would be the relationship between globalisation, migration and terrorism. | Downing Street said his main theme would be the relationship between globalisation, migration and terrorism. |
| He will say the consequences of the three themes are causing new thinking around the world as people see the effects of terrorism on their streets, new waves of migrants and sharper economic competition globally. | He will say the consequences of the three themes are causing new thinking around the world as people see the effects of terrorism on their streets, new waves of migrants and sharper economic competition globally. |
| But he will urge people to embrace the changes happening. | But he will urge people to embrace the changes happening. |
| "We need an approach which is strong, not scared," Mr Blair will say. "An economy that needs open markets, strong welfare and public service systems, particularly education to equip people for change." | "We need an approach which is strong, not scared," Mr Blair will say. "An economy that needs open markets, strong welfare and public service systems, particularly education to equip people for change." |
| On terrorism, the prime minister will say the answer is better security and measures to tackle the underlying causes. | On terrorism, the prime minister will say the answer is better security and measures to tackle the underlying causes. |
| And he will welcome the contribution of migrants, while stressing the need for immigration controls. | And he will welcome the contribution of migrants, while stressing the need for immigration controls. |
| Mr Blair will conclude: "I don't want to live in a closed society, one that hides away in the face of terrorism, one which leaves others to do the dirty work of fighting it, one that says migration is swamping, one that concentrates on protecting a job at the expense of creating others." | Mr Blair will conclude: "I don't want to live in a closed society, one that hides away in the face of terrorism, one which leaves others to do the dirty work of fighting it, one that says migration is swamping, one that concentrates on protecting a job at the expense of creating others." |
| Mr Blair will argue for an open society with rules, which delights in its tolerance, pursues justice within its borders and abroad, and which is confident. | Mr Blair will argue for an open society with rules, which delights in its tolerance, pursues justice within its borders and abroad, and which is confident. |
| "If we believe in ourselves, we can be strong, we can overcome the challenge of global change," he will argue. | "If we believe in ourselves, we can be strong, we can overcome the challenge of global change," he will argue. |
| Leadership hopefuls warned | Leadership hopefuls warned |
| The prime minister and his chancellor take turns each year to give the main platform speech at the conference or address the annual dinner of union bosses. | The prime minister and his chancellor take turns each year to give the main platform speech at the conference or address the annual dinner of union bosses. |
| Mr Brown's after-dinner speech comes after he denied encouraging some Labour MPs to plot to hasten Mr Blair's departure. | Mr Brown's after-dinner speech comes after he denied encouraging some Labour MPs to plot to hasten Mr Blair's departure. |
| And the leader of the biggest union, Unison, warned all those "waiting in the wings" that they had "ridden on the backs" of the unions for too long. | And the leader of the biggest union, Unison, warned all those "waiting in the wings" that they had "ridden on the backs" of the unions for too long. |
| Dave Prentis said: "Don't take my union and this movement's support for granted. You'll have to earn it." | Dave Prentis said: "Don't take my union and this movement's support for granted. You'll have to earn it." |
| While Mr Brown is traditionally thought to have the support of most unions, there are fears about his role in using private firms to run public services and other flashpoints with the government. | While Mr Brown is traditionally thought to have the support of most unions, there are fears about his role in using private firms to run public services and other flashpoints with the government. |