The Sketch: Rebel tendency is split as poulterer shows his pluck

Sometimes you feel that when Tony Blair speaks at the TUC it is like a high-class purveyor of poultry addressing an assembly of vegans – and attempting to find the middle ground.

Yesterday the poulterer seemed to pull it off.

Mr Blair made it clear that if United Nations resolutions continued to be ignored by Saddam Hussein, "action will follow''. Now that is not dissimilar to the kind of pronouncement made by George Bush – a figure derided by most delegates at the TUC's annual conference in Blackpool.

And yet most union leaders seemed to lap up the Prime Minister's speech – all but Bob Crow of the RMT rail union, of course, who is fast establishing himself as the world's most militant trade unionist.

Mr Crow, a large man with little hair and less appetite for compromise, tapped his foot impatiently during Mr Blair's 37-minute speech. The RMT man, however, resisted the temptation to walk out and he prevailed upon his colleagues to perform the same feat of self-discipline. However, he did find it relatively easy to remain in his seat when some delegates joined in a 30-second bout of applause which greeted its end.

"He didn't convince me," said Mr Crow afterwards. "He talked about consultation but he is clearly hell-bent on attacking Iraq. He does everything George Bush tells him to."

Later, Mr Crow's political stance was rewarded when he failed to be voted on to the TUC's ruling general council. He was the first leader of his union since the war to have received such an honour.

Mr Crow's view of the Blair speech was in stark contrast to that of his fellow left-winger, Derek Simpson. Mr Simpson, the newly elected joint general secretary of the Amicus trade union, was in danger of having his freshly printed membership card of the rebellious tendency torn up. Having watched the Prime Minister from a balcony in the ornate ballroom of the Winter Gardens, Mr Simpson welcomed "a very positive speech". The former Communist argued that Mr Blair had clearly weaned Dubya off his fundamentalist position over Iraq to a more measured attempt to involve the UN.

Delegates from the Unison public service union had clearly made their choice before the Prime Minister had a chance to speak. Many wore black T-shirts asking Mr Blair: "Which side are you on?'' It was a fair question. One or two of the Unison delegates let out some rather muffled shouts during the Prime Minister's address and one stalked out afterwards, yelling "No war with Iraq''.

Perhaps a more telling piece of heckling came from a member of the left-led Communication Workers' Union, who shouted "Sharon'' when the Prime Minister argued that no one should be allowed to flout UN sanctions.

Mr Blair hates these dreadful TUC jamborees. It was the fifth time he had addressed congress since becoming leader of his party. He is not desperately keen on trade unionists and they tend to reciprocate. But any suggestion that he might stop his biennial appearances at the conference is a non-starter. The party needs the cash.

On a day when Mr Blair's reception was no worse than muted, the biggest rebuff he was dealt came from Kate Farrington, 16-year-old winner of the TUC's annual youth award. Presented to the Prime Minister on the podium, she told delegates: "It's very nice to meet him, but I'd rather have met Euan Blair.''