NEXT year will mark Labour's longest period in office. In Blackpool this week, there have been signs of the weariness the responsibility of government brings to political parties.

Protests from anti-war campaigners, dissent in the union ranks and defeat in conference debates are the traditional hallmarks of a Labour government ready for a spell as Her Majesty's Opposition.

But this is New Labour. These days the party is made of sterner stuff. And so is its leader.

It is clear Tony Blair is not content with being the first Labour leader to take his party through two full terms of office. He wants a third.

He has been accused of being too presidential. His performance yesterday did not dissuade anyone of that assessment.

He told his party what he was going to do. It was up to the party to follow him, not vice versa.

On the contentious issues which could potentially divide and weaken Labour - Iraq, the Private Finance Initiative and the euro - Mr Blair was unequivocal.

If it is necessary to wage war against Saddam Hussein, he will. If PFI has to be used to build new schools and new hospitals, it will. And if it is in our interests to join the single currency, we will.

Mr Blair's resolve and determination were there for all to see.

His message yesterday was essentially for consumption within his own party's ranks. It was a re-evaluation of New Labour philosophy, the 'third way' to embrace capitalism, social democracy and individualism.

Judging by the response in the conference hall, it was mission accomplished. The critics, if not silenced, have been muted.

But while rhetoric may impress party followers, it does not impress ordinary people.

As the Prime Minister said at his victory in the 2001 Election, it is time to deliver. Time to deliver new schools, new hospitals, extra teachers, extra doctors and extra nurses, to such an extent that the electorate can witness at first hand tangible benefits of the much-vaunted investment in our public services.

And time to deliver the overthrow of Saddam Hussein without throwing the Middle East into chaos.

Promises may win the Prime Minister a standing ovation at the party conference. But it is fulfilment of those promises that will win him another majority at the next General Election.