More radical reform?

More radical reform - Tony Blair's message on public services as he prepares to make his keynote conference speech.

Tony Blair will reaffirm his support for the use of private companies in running public services, when he addresses the Labour Party conference today.

Delegates inflicted a rare defeat on the leadership last night, by voting for a review of the controversial Private Finance Initiative.

But in what's being billed as a 'provocative' speech, Mr Blair will warn the conference that it's time to increase the pace of reforming schools and hospitals, not "mark time or slow down".

The Breakfast debate featured Mike Travis (Paediatric Nurse), Elizabeth Warner(Head teacher) and Charles Clark MP (Labour Party Chairman). The discussion centred on: retention rather than recruitment, league and performance tables. Ratio of managers and frontline staff. AS levels and Estelle Morris.

We'll shortly be bringing you a recording of the interview.

Breakfast also heard from Roger Lyons, who is Joint General Secretary of public sector union Amicus. He talked about the 2 tier workforce and PFI, he said there is a close co-operation with the Government, and alot of hard work and progress has been made. The latest defeat doesn't reflect what has been taking place.

Click here to watch a recording of the Roger Lyons interview.

To catch up on the conference speeches you may have missed click on the right hand side of this screen on the file marked "Audio visual: conference speeches".

The prime minister will attempt to silence critics who said he did not do enough in his first term of office to improve services such as schools and hospitals.

He is also expected to address the issues of education, reforms to the criminal justice system and his stance on Iraq in a speech predicted by many to be the most difficult of his leadership.

On Monday, party delegates voted against the government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) - using private cash to build public sector projects.

Blair's speech main points

Backing the private finance initiative

Education in a 'post-comprehensive' era

Retain right to bomb Iraq

Help victims of crime

It was only the second time Mr Blair had been defeated on the conference floor since he became party leader.

But in his speech Mr Blair is expected to reiterate his support for the plan and back up claims that he will press on regardless of how party members feel.

He is expected to tell delegates it is time to press harder for radical reform of public services.

"We have not been involved enough," in rejuvenating public services, he will say.

It is time to "increase the pace, not mark time or slow down."

The prime minister is expected to acknowledge the A-levels re-grading row but will also say that Britain is now in a "post-comprehensive" era.

Students should go to schools which most accurately reflect their abilities, Mr Blair is expected to tell the conference, signalling the end of comprehensives.

Single currency

He will also highlight promised reforms to the criminal justice system, with police and courts paying more attention to the needs of the victims rather than criminals.

On Iraq, a hotly debated conference topic, Mr Blair will say his preferred route is through the UN but that he retains the right to use military force if that fails.

Pro-euro campaigners are also hoping that Mr Blair will give their drive to join the single currency a boost in his speech, though aides gave no hints besides saying that he was bound to touch on the subject.

On Monday, Labour activists inflicted a hefty defeat on the party leadership at the conference by backing a union demand for an independent review of the PFI.

But earlier party chairman Charles Clarke made it clear that the government would not be swayed from its commitment to using PFI whatever happened in the vote.