IN the bygone days of Old Labour, Harold Wilson was asked what he would do next after having just lost yet another policy vote at the Party conference. "Govern," was his reply.

In his speech to the New Labour faithful in Brighton, Tony Blair drew on the same resolve and determination as his predecessor.

While the days of mutiny among the conference ranks are over, Labour Prime Ministers still face the age-old pressures from people in the country wanting him to change tack.

He is right to listen to the concerns expressed of late over the level of the state pension and the level of duty on fuel. These are legitimate grievances which he must address.

But he is also right to draw the public's attention to political perspective.

To concede to all demands on fuel and pensions threatens to destabilise public finances.

It is the role of Opposition to oppose; of interest groups to promote their interests; and, as Harold Wilson pointed out, of governments to govern.

Yesterday, Mr Blair indicated he wanted to get on with governing.

He and his Chancellor will undoubtedly find the resources to increase pensions sufficiently to start erasing memories of the paltry 75p rise which have dogged this Government for the past year.

And undoubtedly, they will find the means to take the heat out of the fuel protests.

But they must not concede on these two issues at the expense of education and health - the two issues, above all others, on which Labour won the last General Election and on which it will be judged at the next.

It is reassuring, therefore, that Mr Blair still places priority on education and health.

The new emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, which will kill one in four of us, is most welcome.

It demonstrates that Mr Blair has not only the courage to admit his mistakes, but also the courage to stick to his convictions; and that he may be only be prepared to compromise as long as these convictions remain intact.