Bill Clinton: Tony Blair deserves your support

Taken from a speech by the former US President to the Labour Party conference at Blackpool

I think this whole Iraq issue is made more difficult for some of you because of the differences you have with the conservatives in America over other matters, over the International Criminal Court, the Kyoto Treaty, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. And, you know, I don't agree with that either. Plus I disagree with them on nearly everything; I have a world of disagreements with them. But we can't lose sight of the bigger issue.

To build the world we want, America will have to be involved. And the best likelihood comes when America and Britain, when America and Europe, are working together. We cannot believe that we cannot reach across party and philosophical lines to find common ground on issues fundamental to our security and the way we organise ourselves as free people. That is what we are all trying to work towards in the present day. And why I ask you to support Tony Blair as he makes that effort.

Now if you will permit me, even though I am a retired politician, I'd like to say a word about domestic politics. The United States and Britain cannot do good around the world unless we are good and getting better at home. You think about it. Much of the power that we can have grows out of the power of our examples.

We can't tell people to make a more integrated world unless they think we're making a more integrated society. Unless all of our children have a chance to get a decent education. Unless we have balanced the demands for freedom and security. Unless we have absorbed our immigrants in a way that is consistent with our values and the elemental obligations that we have for equal opportunity.

We cannot do good abroad unless we are good at home.