Tony Blair’s valedictory speech had one overwhelming message: he wants Labour to win a fourth successive general election victory no matter who it now chooses as his successor.

For weeks, Labour has been damaged by vicious infighting between Mr Blair and Gordon Brown over the succession. But on Tuesday, in an oratorical tour de force, the prime minister tried to draw a line under his divisions with the chancellor and set out the direction of travel Labour must take after he is gone.