A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity, together with the Malta Labour Party’s president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, to attend the annual British Labour Party Conference held in Manchester. Undoubtedly so, I consider this to have been one of my most rewarding overseas political experiences. This conference was definitely not one like many others. This was the last party conference for Tony Blair as party leader, after having led the Labour Party for the last 12 years and to three consecutive electoral victories, after the dismay of four electoral defeats.

Blair transformed the way that the British Labour Party used to do politics. He was able to shed the difficulties that the trade unions had weighed on the Labour Party and also drafted a way out of the cobweb that had made Labour unable to govern. This was not achieved easily, or without paying a price. Arguments are in fact still going on with regard to the style and manner he went about with these changes.

One central issue of these changes was that he started talking of values, rather than ideology. He pulled down most, if not all, of the political fences, and built on ideas and policies that were not necessarily traditionally Labour, inventing in the process the notion of “cross-dressing” in political programmes. He transformed the Labour Party into a mean political machine of the American corporate kind and moved on. His charisma crowned it all.

To be totally fair, these changes in the Labour Party were not the only issues that had set the scenario for Labour to regain the realms of power. The Conservatives had won four consecutive elections, and drawing a parallel with the Nationalists locally, we know what overstaying does to politicians.

Labour’s priorities were also clear from the outset – the economy, education, health and order. By far, the biggest success for Blair – and here I should also include Brown – was that the economy was put on solid foundations that in turn rendered steady growth attainable. This strong economy benefited the government in that it provided it with a steady stream of revenue to invest in the derelict services of health and education.

I cannot say that I would agree with all the policies applied, but in fairness, there has definitely been serious progress in both education and health in the UK. In my opinion, Blair has been a brilliant leader and Prime Minister, and showed that the left can and will deliver. Jokingly he said: “I know I look a lot older. That’s what being leader of the Labour Party does to you.” But having a Labour government has also definitely made Britain much better.

Personally, I believe that Blair would have wished to stay on a bit longer. Unfortunately, however, the Iraq war and the British involvement in Afghanistan eroded much of his popular appeal. Relations with the United States and his seemingly unquestionable adherence to whatever the US came up with was not only eroding his grip on the party’s administration, but also his standing with the British public. The war in Lebanon put the cherry on the cake and the dissent from the general public and from within the Labour Party with regard to his position on the ceasefire issue came to a head, leading to overwhelming pressure on him to announce his departure date.

The main unresolved question now is who will succeed him. Most believe that Gordon Brown will fit well into his shoes. He definitely has a good record as chancellor; but again will his closeness to Blairite politics help, or ruin his chances of becoming the new British Prime Minister? What about the other contestants?

Blair’s performance in this conference was stunning. He delivered an unforgettable speech in one hour and one minute, setting the programme for the months to come and further. All the way positively wishing Labour a fourth victory and promising that he would be there in the trenches with Labour.

He also emphasised the fact that most of politics are not about politics in the sense of meetings, resolutions, speeches or even parties. It starts and ends with people. It is about friendship, art, culture, sport. It’s about being a fully paid-up member of the human race, before being a fully paid-up member of the Labour Party.

It is this last thought which I would like to stress and share with all and sundry: that politics’ very existence and all the relevant endeavours should have just one aim: that of serving people.

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Dr Michael Falzon is the MLP deputy leader for party affairs