Tony Blair’s speech was twice interrupted yesterday by protestors who breached the so-called "ring of steel" around the conference.

Soon after he began speaking, the prime minister was forced to pause by a man protesting from a balcony over the Iraq war, who was then bundled out.

Blair was again forced to halt when a small group of hunting supporters demonstrated from elsewhere in the balcony against the Hunting Bill.

Paul Murphy, the Northern Ireland secretary, was taken to hospital after falling ill during the applause for Blair's speech.

Paramedics ruled out heart problems but he remained in hospital for routine tests.

Also at the conference, the Labour leadership's chances of avoiding a defeat on Iraq have risen amid frantic attempts to withdraw a "troops out now" motion.

The Walthamstow constituency party said  that it was withdrawing its seconding of the  motion, due to be debated tomorrow, calling for an immediate end to British involvement in the US-led occupation.

A final decision will be made today by the Labour conference arrangements committee, which is meeting to decide whether the motion can proceed without being seconded.