Take that
- 26 Sep 06, 06:52 PM
They choose the music ever so carefully for these big conference speeches.
"We're not invincible" were the words which rang out as Cherie Blair walked into that hall to watch her husband's farewell speech. She, of course, knew that he had proved to be invincible at the polls. It wasn't the Tories, it was Labour that forced Tony Blair to depart now - instead of serving the full term he promised at the last election.
He could have made his forced exit a painful one - he could have attacked his critics - snubbed Gordon Brown - angrily defended his wife - lectured his party on the way forward. That he did none of those things will be a source of huge relief to many in this party.
It will, of course, mean that - like every great showman - he left the stage with the crowd wanting more. It is hard to believe after this fond farewell that Tony Blair may not leave Downing Street for another seven months but he IS heading for the exits and - as Take That's lyrics have it - Someday soon this will be someone else's dream
Maybe the most significant thing about Tony Blair's speech (watch it in full 
