27/09/2006

Clinton praises Blair's government as a "stunning success"

Former US President Bill Clinton has praised Tony Blair's Labour government as a "stunning success" during his speech at the party's conference in Manchester.

Mr Clinton heaped praise upon the Prime Minister during his speech.

He said: "I want to thank Tony Blair for his leadership - his preservation of our old Atlantic alliance through quite a lot of storm, as well as occasional sunshine."

The former US President also thanked Mr Blair for his personal friendship and for "enduring the rigours of public life".

Chancellor Gordon Brown was also praised for his "brilliant economic leadership" during Mr Clinton's speech.

However, Mr Clinton also warned delegates that people took Labour's achievements for granted, because the party had "produced prosperity and social progress for so long it's easy for people to believe it's just part of the landscape."

(KMcA/EF)

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