Labour told not to focus on leadership

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday urged Labour to focus on the challenges facing the country — not the challengers after his job.

But ahead of Chancellor Gordon Brown’s keynote speech to the party’s annual conference today, the tussle for the leadership continued to dominate the gathering as it opened in Manchester.

Mr Brown’s address to delegates will be seen as his official application for the post Mr Blair will vacate some time in the next year.