PAUL Denham has returned to Worcester from the Labour Party conference a happy man.

The Prime Minister's words were exactly what the city's delegate, had ordered - that "voices of discontent" must be heard.

Mr Blair offered the biggest policy consultation in history and the publication of a prospectus discussing controversial plans for reform.

That it paid immediate dividends is shown by Coun Denham's stance on foundation hospitals.

He had been planning to vote to give Mr Blair a bloody nose, he said. But, after Mr Blair and Health Secretary John Reid finally explained what it would mean for hospitals to be freed from Whitehall control, he voted for the Government.

Two-thirds of delegates did, but the union votes ensured Mr Blair was beaten overall.

Said Coun Denham: "If the motivation behind it is to give everybody what only the rich currently have, which is choice and a greater say in healthcare, that has to be a good thing locally."

If Mr Blair's aim had been to refresh delegates and motivated them for the battles which lay ahead in local elections and the euro-poll next May, he was successful with Mr Denham.

"There are many things which this Government has achieved for Worcester and my ward over the past six years which I had forgotten about.

"I'd forgotten, for example, the minimum wage was going up this week to £4.50 an hour. That makes a big difference in St Barnabas.

"The Prime Minister reminded me of Sure Start, the fact we have the third best child literacy rate in the world literacy. That needed doing."

Coun Denham's final observation was that, while he had returned to Worcester happy, there was one grumpy man.

"I was watching Gordon Brown and he showed very little emotion during Blair's speech. After it finished, he was one of the first to leave."

It was understandable. After delivering a tub-thumping speech on Monday, urging Labour to find its soul, he had looked every bit the leader in waiting. He will have to wait a bit longer, Coun Denham believes.

n Has your view of Tony Blair and his Government changed? Tell us your views by e-mail to letters@thisisworcester.co.uk or Voice of Worcester, Worcester Evening News, Hylton Road, Worcester WR2 5JX.