Question: The prime minister has never been at ease with Labour's union relationship has he?

Brendan Barber: No I don't accept that. But I think that the prime minister and the rest of the government, because it would be wrong to totally personalise these things all the time, is beginning to realise they need to win back some of their traditional support.

Question: Do you think government ministers really believe in trade unions or deep down think it's a marriage of convenience?

Brendan Barber: I think they do but they fail to articulate that with any conviction. One of many key challenges to the prime minister and other key ministers is this: in spelling out your vision of what you want to see in a modern vision you ought to demonstrate a real recognition of the contribution that unions have got to make.

We represent after all seven million people - that's a very big proportion of the workforce. It's not as big as it used to be - and that's something we need to turn around - but we're a very important representative force.

The government ought to challenge us more, constructively, about the contribution that we can make. They've begun to do that in the area in the area of skills and training. They should do it more broadly in the area of productivity and economic performance and in winning union support for driving up real improvements in our public services.

If they worked with unions they'd get a much better response than ignoring them and setting them to one side.

Question: Last year's conference was dominated by public services. Labour's conference also saw anger from the Left but nothing's changed? How can you make the government listen?

Brendan Barber: I think some things have changed; the two tier agreement, the breakthrough in information and consultation rights which is a hugely important issue, family-friendly rights, training and skills. These are all moves that have been won just since I've been elected as general secretary.

Sometimes the government don't do as well as they should in trumpeting more positively some of the moves they have made to work more constructively with the trade unions.

But it would be wrong to paint a picture that nothing's been moving; all sorts of things have been happening and pretty constructively too.

Question: How should the prime minister rebuild trust with the wider public and particularly the trade union movement?

Brendan Barber: Well with the trade union movement they need to talk to us more openly about the major public policy issues in which we've got a proper interest.

A key area is public services reform. We've proposed that the government should establish with us a public services forum so that in terms of the strategic thinking in government on this issue there ought to be an active dialogue with the relevant unions when strategic judgements are made. This is instead of people being presented with fait accompli.

That's a practical thing the government could do that would begin to establish greater trust and confidence.

Question: What's been the fall out from the fire strike and what are the lessons that can be learnt?

Brendan Barber: It was clearly a very difficult period. There's no doubt there was some damage done in terms of government relations.

Having said that it's important to look forward rather than back. An orderly settlement was achieved. But there remains an extremely strong concern on the trade union side on the piece of legislation that's still being taken through parliament which includes a provision for the government to impose a settlement.

But I think the FBU is looking to go forward and getting the terms of the agreement delivered and trying to get relations back on a more even keel.

Question: Some unions are reviewing their funding of the Labour Party. What's your view on this?

Brendan Barber: A number of unions have been looking at their relationship with Labour. It's not really an issue for the TUC. For unions affiliated with Labour it's up to them. We don't have that kind of relationship; a lot of unions aren't affiliated to Labour. It wouldn't be right for us to get involved in an internal Labour Party matter.

Question: What's the feeling among unions about Iraq now that the war has happened and we're into a terrorist campaign?

Brendan Barber: Well, we're kind of looking forward to the real challenges of reconstruction in Iraq. Of course the circumstances there are enormously difficult at the moment. The security situation is immensely difficult; we are still seeing casualties among coalition forces and the huge difficulty of getting any order in Iraqi society.

We are very concerned that in approaching the challenge of reconstruction it should be done on a multi-national basis. It ought to be done under UN auspices and in particular we're concerned that there ought to be a strong recognition of proper employment standards as part of what people are looking to build in a new Iraq.

Included in those employment standards should be proper rights and freedoms for trade unions to be formed and represent Iraqi workers.

There's some practical work that we want to see the International Labour Organisation doing in Iraq that we would want to give assistance to.

Question: Any plans to invite CBI director general Digby Jones to a TUC event in the future?

Brendan Barber: He's actually coming to conference; I'm due to share a platform with him next week. I'm sure he'll get a fair hearing.

Question: Are unions cooling on the euro?

Brendan Barber: No, I don't think so. The majority union view is still positive towards the euro subject to the five tests being met. I think there was a lot of enthusiasm that following the chancellor's statement the government would put a sense of momentum into the work that might lead towards a referendum and a positive decision.

I think that sense of momentum has not been achieved and that perhaps because of other events - Iraq and those since - that's taken the government's eye in other directions. I would hope we get back to a focus on the euro.

Question: Is the resignation of Alastair Campbell a chance for a fresh start by the government?

Brendan Barber: No I don't think on our side there is quite this obsession with individuals that colours reporting. I think Alastair did an extremely good job for the prime minister and the government. He's decided to make a change and that's fine. David Hill will come in and there may be others taking on new roles.

The key thing is the judgements that the government makes. And that's about the decision that ministers make. That's more important than what happens to people in advisory or support roles. That's what I'll be concentrating on - working with ministers to ensure a better deal for trade unions.