"Undiluted new Labour"

Blair Pledges More Labour Reforms

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has made an impassioned plea for support for his proposals for further reform of the Labour Party.

Addressing the Party's Youth and Women's Conference in Bournemouth, he said Labour must continue to modernise itself if it wanted to avoid a return to the internal divisions of the 1980s.

"This is new Labour, undiluted. Irn Bru. And will remain so," proclaimed Mr Blair.

Warning that the Party would lose the trust of the British people if it went back to its old ways, Mr Blair fiercely defended plans to reform Labour's power structure. Critics have denounced the proposals as a bid to marginalise the Left and the trade unions, and turn Labour's annual conference into little more than a rally endorsing the Government.

But Mr Blair said there was no question of them being watered down.

Report by BBC Political Correspondent Lance Price

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"By supporting these reforms, new Labour will demonstrate that we have not lost the courage to change and modernise our party," said the Prime Minister.

"It was that courage which brought us victory on May 1st and it will deliver us the victories of the future."

Mr Blair said the Government was "on trial," and he would never let the party return to the internal strife of the 1980s.

The message has found little favour with left-wingers, who see the process as concentrating more power in the hands of the party leadership.

Livingstone warns against stifling debate

Ken Livingstone, MP, says the proposals are an attempt to neuter the party. He warned that stifling debate would only lead to anger and make it more likely that Labour would fail in government.

"By clamping down on democracy in the party, by stifling debate, the Government's more likely to make mistakes and therefore not get re-elected, than if it allows an open and honest debate," said Mr Livingstone.

Under Mr Blair's proposals, the annual party conference will remain the final policy-making body, but regular policy forums will be held throughout the year to ensure "genuine" consultation with party members.

There have already been some forums, and a further 95 are planned around the country from September.

Traditionally, the annual conference and the National Executive Committee have been two of the most powerful bodies in the Labour Party. However, Mr Blair says he wants two different centres of power: a strong leadership in parliament and a vibrant Party membership.

Climax of the Orange marching season