Blunt warning to unions from Blair

The Prime Minister tackled union militancy head on, warning senior trade unionists that the idea of a left wing Labour Government as an alternative to a moderate one was an "abiding delusion".

Tony Blair told leaders of the country's top unions that he would not be deflected from controversial reforms of public services, despite rising anger over the increased involvement of private firms.

He told a dinner in Brighton, attended by the TUC general council as well as other members of the Cabinet and a string of Government ministers, that there was no alternative to the Government's agenda.

He said that "sensible" trade unions and most Labour party members knew that the Government was doing its best for working people.

The Government has come under a string of attacks from trade union leaders over the past few days amid warnings that Labour could fight the next general election divided from the union movement. Chancellor Gordon Brown received a lukewarm reception from 800 delegates at the TUC congress earlier today when he made it clear that public sector reforms and the Government's pro-enterprise agenda would continue.

Mr Blair, who travelled to Brighton by train from London, joined 200 trade union officials and politicians for dinner at the seafront Grand Hotel.

Shortly before the main course, Mr Blair stood up and said the leader of the country's biggest union, Unison, had told him during a meeting last week that the Government's extra investment in public services was paying off, with thousands of extra teachers and nurses and shorter hospital waiting lists.

"The purpose of it all is to ensure we live in a Britain where access to quality health care and education depends not on your wallet, but on your need and where it is your talent, not your background, or class, that determines success."

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