Downing Street: No regrets over WI

Poor reception: Tony Blair before the Women's Institute

Downing Street insists Tony Blair will come out fighting, after his embarrassing "handbagging" by the Women's Institute.

The prime minister would continue to press home the government's message and not be distracted by the "24-hour babbology of the media", said Mr Blair's spokesman Alistair Campbell.

However, senior party figures including former deputy Labour Party leader Roy Hattersley have warned Mr Blair to get to grips with the "PR catastrophe".

Almost all the catastrophes of the last three years have been PR catastrophes

Roy Hattersley

He was heckled and slow-hand-clapped by WI delegates, when Downing Street had expected him to receive a warm welcome.

Some of the British newspapers said Mr Blair had been "handbagged" but Mr Campbell denied the event had been a disaster.

The government is seeking to go on the offensive after the speech, with both Trade Secretary Stephen Byers and Home Secretary Jack Straw announcing policy initiatives.

Post offices petition

But there was further embarrassment for the prime minister from the WI on Thursday, when a petition signed by 25,000 people protesting at the closure of rural post offices was delivered to Downing Street.

Mr Blair's comments about the plight of rural post offices in his speech to the WI received some of the most hostile reaction.

Not amused: Members of the WI

Mr Straw acknowledged in an interview with BBC Radio that the government would have to take on board the hostile reaction to the speech.

"It obviously spells thoughtfulness and a need for reflection," he said.

But in contrast, Mr Blair's spokesman was adamant that the incident had not thrown the government off course.

He said that Mr Blair had not read the hostile newspaper headlines that morning, and that the speech was not discussed at the cabinet meeting.

"The government has got an agenda and is delivering on that agenda and it is far more important than the activity and behaviour of a number of women at a big gathering," Mr Campbell said.

He said Mr Blair would not "sit around wallowing and navel-gazing".

Commons leader Margaret Beckett also made a stalwart defence of the speech and expressed surprise at the uproar.

Following Tory taunts in the Commons, Mrs Beckett said: "I think it would be a mistake on anybody's part to assume that the prime minister is distressed."

Pleasing the people

But Mr Hattersley said Wednesday's speech was symptomatic of the party's failure in government to get its message across.

He said: "Almost all the catastrophes of the last three years have been PR catastrophes.

"We were told before the election that the pre-Downing Street PR machine was the best we have ever seen.

"I think that was true in opposition. I think that they get it continually wrong in government and Tony Blair needs to take them by the scruff of the neck and reorganise them."

Turning his criticism to Mr Blair, Mr Hattersley said: "His desire is to convince the whole community that he is on everyone's side simultaneously.

Someone should get a good kicking around the office

MP Tony Wright

"Well he can't be. Unless he is prepared to make some enemies, he won't make enough friends.

"This tent is now so big all you can hear is the flapping of the canvas."

'Lesson for Blair'

MP Tony Wright, a Blair loyalist, regards the speech as a turning point.

He said that Women's Institute might have done a "sterling service" to the party by finally proving to the prime minister that people would not play a scripted part in choreographed politics.

"The spin machine is the curse of modern politics and we had the evidence of it yesterday," he said.

"Tony Blair was the victim of it and someone should get a good kicking around the office.

"If he did not understand it, he does now, this stuff does not work in the long-term, it's counter-productive.

"People just don't buy this stuff anymore," he said.