Pensions secretary Andrew Smith has announced plans to pay large lump sums to people who delay claiming their state pension.

He told the Labour conference on Thursday that anyone postponing their claim by five years would receive up to £30,000 - a sum 50 per cent larger than previously expected.

However, the announcement failed to stop unions pushing through a motion calling for employers to be compelled to make pension contributions - a move the party leadership opposed and that was criticised by business leaders.

Smith also revealed plans for a nationwide childcare network, based on children's centres at almost every primary school.

In his closing speech, John Prescott appeared to appeal to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown not to let their differences ruin their relationship.

"We did hear...two powerful speeches from Tony and Gordon. And this conference knows, the party knows, the whole country knows, that these two achieve more by their common endeavour than they do alone," said the deputy prime minister.

"Now, Tony and I have our discussions. In private. And we have our ups and downs. But when we do disagree I don't rush out and issue a press release. Or brief the newspapers."

He also attacked Labour MPs who have written critical articles in the Daily Mail. "When I go to party events around the country, hard-working party activists ask me: why do Labour MPs write articles, especially in the Tory Daily Mail, attacking a Labour government? I have to tell them, I don't know. I can't understand it myself."

Also on Thursday, David Blunkett vowed that gun crime will be defeated if Labour wins a third term of government. In his speech to delegates the home secretary said: "The reality of the moment may well be the challenge of guns. But it will not be the reality of tomorrow if this Labour government succeeds in getting a third term in office to carry forward our agenda."

Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy also announced plans for tougher prison sentences for anyone guilty of committing sectarian crimes in Ulster. He added that homosexuals in Northern Ireland are to be protected by new "hate crime" legislation.

Delegates closed the conference by singing the Red Flag. While Tony Blair appeared word perfect, John Prescott opted to stay silent.

In his post-conference analysis, Peter Riddell of the Times concludes that "Mr Blair was the obvious winner" while "Mr Brown had an ambivalent week". John Reid and Charles Clarke also win his praise, but "Alan Milburn and Stephen Byers made little impact, experiencing the obscurity of loss of office".

FT political editor James Blitz says that while there were tensions at the conference - notably between the prime minister and the chancellor - Labour has still had a "good week" as constituency activists showed they were serious about winning a third term in power.

Rachel Sylvester of the Telegraph says that "while the conference started with Gordon Brown in the ascendancy, it has ended with Tony Blair at the top".

However, the Express reports that Robin Cook is set to back the chancellor to take over as Labour's next leader.