Blair stands his centre ground

Tony Blair yesterday issued his clearest warning so far that he intends to run a Labour government from the centre, and its election manifesto will be "uncompromisingly New Labour," writes Colin Brown.

Stressing that New Labour was not an election gimmick, Mr Blair warned Labour MPs they would not be allowed to give a Labour Government "the runaround." The old days of tax and spend were over.He would be prepared to veto EU social chapter rules to stop employers facing German-style costs in Britain.

His blunt warning to the Labour movement, including the unions, at a dinner for newspaper editors, could upset traditional Labour voters. But he said the changes to the Labour Party were "unalterable".

The changes were "unalterable", Mr Blair added.