IT was not Iraq that Tony Blair wanted to talk about yesterday when he addressed the Labour Party Conference for the final time before he seeks a third term at a General Election next year.

He wanted to concentrate on domestic issues - the ten home-based pledges designed to persuade Britain's hard-working families to stick with Labour.

But for all the undoubted progress his Government has made in health, education and the economy, Mr Blair is destined to be haunted by Iraq.

And the untimely deaths of two more British soldiers, coupled with the on-going hostage crisis, overshadowed the traditionalist talk of boosting vocational education, increasing choice for NHS patients, and promising ''universal, affordable and flexible child care for parents of all three to 14-year-olds.''

The debate goes on about whether the Prime Minister went far enough in defending the war against Iraq. He finally conceded that he was wrong about weapons of mass destruction but refused to apologise for locking up Saddam Hussein.

Most of us share the relief that Saddam is no longer in power, but the Iraq factor continues to fuel the national sense of unease, verging on mistrust of the Government, which built during the years of spin.

It was a theme seized upon by Conservative Party Co-Chairman Dr Liam Fox who listed broken Government promises on taxes, tuition fees, crime and immigration.

''He's had seven years but Labour hasn't delivered. Why should the British people trust them for a third term?'' asked Mr Fox.

The answer is unpalatably simple as far as the Tory Party is concerned: despite changes of leadership, there remains very little alternative.

The cynicism surrounding the Government is outweighed by the lack of faith in the opposition.