In a speech meant to appeal to Labour's heartland supporters, the prime minister insisted yesterday that trade unions had been a critical influence on his government and called on them to back his stance on Iraq.

Forum Response: UNIFI

Dai Davies, a spokesman for UNIFI, told ePolitix.com: "Tony Blair came to Blackpool to give a speech on Iraq, it was well respected and well received. He offered good, clear assurances and reaffirmed the partnership with trade unions and Labour."

Forum Response: Unison

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, told ePoltix.com: "This was a skilful, conciliatory speech - very different from the one the prime minister was going to deliver last year. He used warm words like partnership, said he was prepared to listen to us on workforce conditions and talked of the positive things achieved by the government.

"He concentrated on the things that unite us but avoided two difficult issues. He did not give us a categorical assurance that president Bush and prime minister Blair would not bilaterally start a war in the Middle East.

"And he skirted round the whole issue of using the private sector to deliver our public services - something which still divides us. We know from past experience that private companies do not improve our public services, but make huge profits out of them".

Forum Response: GMB

John Edmonds, general secretary of the GMB general workers, told ePolitix.com: "The UN is the key that will resolve the Iraq crisis, not the battering ram."