BRIGHTON, England (AFP) - Iraq loomed menacingly over the annual conference of Britain's governing Labour Party, spoiling the efforts of Prime Minister Tony Blair to focus minds on domestic issues ahead of an expected general election next year.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown delivered a keynote speech on the economy on Monday, warning against "irresponsible pre-election promises" that might upset Britain's ongoing run of prosperity.
"We must show at all times we have the discipline and strength to take the tough long-term fiscal and monetary decisions for Britain," the finance minister said, as he argued the case for building a "progressive consensus" to underpin social justice at home and abroad.
But it was clear that instability in Iraq -- and, especially, the uncertain fate of British engineer Kenneth Bigley at the hands of Islamic extremists who abducted him 11 days ago -- was overshadowing the first full day of the gathering in Brighton, a bohemian resort town on England's south coast.
In a setback for the prime minister, delegates voted Sunday to debate Iraq as part of a larger discussion on British foreign policy on Thursday, the final day of the conference, and put a motion on the conflict to the vote.
That is the same day as a closely-watched by-election in the Labour stronghold of Hartlepool, northeast England, where voters could punish Blair for taking Britain into the US-led war to oust Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq where there are still some 8,000 British troops as part of the US-led coalition.
Bigley was seized in Baghdad on September 16 by the Tawhid wal Jihad (Unity and Holy War) group, along with two Americans executed within days after demands for the release of women held in US-run Iraqi prisons were not met.
On Sunday, Bigley's brother Paul told participants at an anti-war fringe meeting in Brighton that he had received word that the captive Briton was still alive, following an emotional series of pleas from his family.
But at the same time, Paul Bigley publicly criticised Blair for assuming a low profile during his brother's ordeal -- a charge that he reiterated Monday during a BBC radio interview.
"Mr Blair is a gentleman, he's a statesman if you like, but I'm afraid to say, his sell-by date has really gone," he said. "He has not got the credibility to negotiate the purchase of a bicycle."
With Blair seated by his side, however, Brown said in his speech Monday that everyone in Britain owed "our leader and prime minister" their "full support" as the Bigley ordeal plays itself out.
Blair, keen to lead Labour to a third term in power in an election likely in May or June next year, had hoped that 18 months after the Iraq invasion, he would be able to refocus attention on domestic issues such as health care and education reform.
But political analysts say his prospects for re-election may yet hinge on what happens in Iraq -- not only with regards to insurgent attacks and hostage-takings, but also the outcome of Iraq's own polls next January.
Former foreign secretary Robin Cook, who quit Blair's government in protest over the Iraq war, urged the prime minister Monday to "reach out" to the wider public over Iraq with the message that "it won't happen again".
"People who opposed the war are concerned about voting for Tony Blair when they think he might do it again," Cook told BBC radio.
Cook said Blair should not ignore calls for "an exit strategy" from Iraq, amid "deep anxiety" over whether the stability and security in the country will deteriorate still further.