TUC fires pre-conference volley at reforms

Tony Blair today faced a fresh challenge to his authority - this time from the big unions.

A blitz of motions condemning the Prime Minister's policies on NHS reforms and involving the private sector in public services were issued by the four biggest unions for the annual TUC conference.

The move points towards a series of angry clashes over the autumn carrying on into the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

It follows the attack on Mr Blair's leadership in the New Statesman magazine which was blamed on allies of Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Downing Street officials were furious at the magazine's claims that Mr Blair was a "psychopath" whose support was ebbing among Labour backbenchers.

Although Mr Blair can normally afford to ignore the unions, there is concern that fallout from the war with Iraq and other issues will disrupt the smooth running of the Bournemouth conference.

Among the challenges being mounted at the TUC, Unison "condemns the dismantling of the NHS through the introduction of foundation trusts and the creation of a two-tier health service".

The transport union accuses the Government of importing "damaging market values" into the NHS.

And the GMB calls for interest rates to be lowered to bail out manufacturing industry.