Blair tries to shift the focus away from Iraq

Tony Blair was today attempting to break free of the Iraq crisis and his elections disaster with an intensive round of speeches on domestic policy.

The Prime Minister was using his monthly Downing Street press conference to signal a series of announcements of new money and radical reforms for health, education and other key public services.

The move is a long-planned strategy by Downing Street to reassure voters Mr Blair has not forgotten their main concerns and to shift the focus away from Iraq.

Mr Blair was expected to promise details of Labour's five-year plan for the NHS next week, with similar blueprints for education, transport and crime over the following month.

Chancellor Gordon Brown's latest comprehensive spending review, setting out plans for the next three years, will be unveiled before the end of this month.