LABOUR leader Tony Blair last night told the Tories their time was up and called for a clear and radical vision for Britain, saying Labour was back as the party of the majority.
In a speech aimed at the middle classes Labour needs to win over if it is to succeed at the next general election, he stole many of the Tories' clothes - with the offer of help to the small businessman and the promise that Labour would be tough on crime.
Mr Blair adopted the slogan 'New Labour, New Britain' to bring his audience to life with one of the most prolonged standing ovations in many years.
He failed to detail his own policies - but that was intentional. Instead he urged those on the left of the party impatient for detail to have faith in the policies being developed to take the party to victory.
Mr Blair's first speech to the Blackpool conference as party leader had been flagged as epoch-making and it did not fail in raising the morale of a party which senses victory three years hence. 'Sensational' was the typical comment from his delighted audience.
There were promises on full employment and rebuilding the welfare state but few details. Instead Mr Blair spent much of his speech attacking the 'broken promises and failed policies' of the Tories.