Blair's speech dominates papers

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The papers are divided on their reaction to Tony Blair's final speech to the Labour party conference.

The Sun said it was seen as the best speech of his life, "leaving mutineers in no doubt they have robbed Labour of its greatest asset".

The paper has the headline, "I Did It My Way". The Guardian also saw a touch of Sinatra in the "commanding" tone.

The paper's Polly Toynbee writes: "Regrets, he had a few, but then again, too few to mention".

'Dazzling' words

The Daily Mail said Mr Blair sealed his reputation as a great performer but he had been "strikingly selective".

Claims about successes also gets its columnist Max Hastings going. Almost every word "would have been perjury had he been on oath", he writes.

The Daily Telegraph said Mr Blair had given one of his "most dazzling speeches", stealing the spotlight from his likely successor Gordon Brown.

The paper, however, also questioned some of the PM's "extravagant claims".

'Long goodbye'

The Daily Express said the PM gave a "vintage demonstration" of spin.

The Independent sees the "inspired" speech as a "long goodbye" that Mr Blair hopes will enable him to remain in Downing Street for nine more months.

The Financial Times said the praise for Mr Brown in the "tough but tender" speech stopped short of an endorsement.

The Morning Star said the speech went down badly with peace campaigners who warned Labour members the UK "will not tolerate any more Blairism".

Comic timing

Under the headline, "Blair's lasthurrah", the Times said Mr Blair tried to replace the current mood of pessimism in his party with confidence.

He was given a hero's farewell, the paper notes.

But it is the quip about his wife being unlikely to run away with the bloke next door which preoccupies the Times.

Mr Blair has late comic Les Dawson to thank for the gag, plus a little help from former communications chief Alastair Campbell it says.