Perception Panel: Tony Blair

PERCEPTION PANEL How does it work? Which buttons do I press? David Cameron Tony Blair Gordon Brown Menzies Campbell

The Perception Panel measures how you the viewers react to the big conference speeches - in real time! We're the first TV programme in the world to do this, and we want you to get involved: call 0800 666 808 for more details, or read on...

We've brought back the Perception Panel that proved popular during last year's conference and PMQs - so popular, in fact, that you pushed the system to its very limits - and then some!

This year, we're ready for you, and we're interested in how you're responding to three of the men who would be PM - and the one who is.

The speeches in question are Menzies Campbell's (Sept 21st), Gordon Brown's (Sept 25th), Tony Blair's (Sept 26th) and David Cameron's (Oct 4th).

From the comfort of your armchair you can tell us whether you're loving or hating what the big guns are saying -- as they're saying it.

How does it work?

About ten minutes before the speech, we'll ask you to use your landline telephone to ring the freephone number 0800 666 808. Then Jenny will ask you a few questions - but she'll go easier on you than she does on our guests!

Which buttons do I press? If you like what's said: 5 If you dislike what's said: 8

You tell us a little bit about yourself and then stay on the line. While you watch the speeches, you push numbers on your telephone keypad to tell us if you're feeling negative or positive about what is being said.

We then frantically crunch the numbers and before the end of the programme, our snazzy graphs show what you made of the exchange.

Tony Blair Watch this Perception Panel

Tuesday September 26th: Tony Blair

We've never had so many calls to the Perception Panel as we did for Tony Blair's final conference speech as Labour Party leader. Apologies to those of you who had trouble getting through, and we hope that you find the responses as interesting as we do.

Looking for general high points, the PM's joke about his wife's relationship with Gordon Brown went down very well. And the most positive responses from our audience as a whole came when the PM was attacking the Conservative leader Mr Cameron - which could make for an interesting Perception Panel during the Tory conference next week.

"Re-built not privatised"

First, we looked at how you responded to Mr Blair's comments on the NHS.

Let's be clear. Over the past ten years, Britain has invested more in our public services than any comparable nation in the world. From near the bottom in Europe to the average in a decade.

300,000 more workers, treble the money, 25% more pay in real terms and the largest ever hospital programme; that is an NHS being re-built not privatised.

At this point, we saw, unsurprisingly, peaks from Labour supporters, and equally unsurprisingly, a negative reaction from Tories. But among people not aligned with any of the three main parties - which is about 50% of the population - we saw a marked disapproval. This indicated that while Labour's health service plans played well in the hall, they may not be popular among the wider public and among potential voters.

"Defeat for terrorism"

Another interesting point was your response when Mr Blair turned to the Middle East.

We must never again let Lebanon become the battleground for a conflict that neither Israeli or Lebanese people wanted though it was they who paid the price for it.

Peace in Lebanon is a defeat for terrorism.

Action in Africa is a defeat for terrorism.

When Sir Menzies Campbell talked about Darfur last week, we saw a big split along gender lines- but it was women who were far more impressed. Today, the PM's comments on the Middle East and Darfur were a much bigger hit among male voters.

"Let Liberty stand up for the Law-abiding"

Finally, Mr Blair outlined his priorities, focussing on the plans of the Home Secretary John Reid.

In the next Parliamentary Session, the centre-piece will be John Reid's immigration and law and order reforms.

I ask people of all Parties to support them.

Let Liberty stand up for the Law-abiding.

Mr Blair gave a tough address, which you might associate with a certain age group - and possibly not the one which gave it the most positive response.

This passage went extremely well among 18-34-year olds, with a far more equivocal response among those aged 35-64.

Stay in touch

Be ready on Wednesday 4th to dial 0800 666 808 and tell us what you make of David Cameron's speech.

If you have anything to tell us about the Perception Panel, or any other aspect of The Daily Politics, please do email us at [e-mail] or use the form below.