Clinton hails outgoing Blair

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair won ringing praise after his emotional farewell to the ruling party, including from ex-US president Bill Clinton who hailed his "stunning" record.

But commentators agreed that, while Mr Blair's Labour party has managed mostly to paper over its cracks during this week's annual conference, only the coming months will decide the fate of his successor and the party's future.

Mr Clinton - often compared with Mr Blair as a charismatic leader of “Third Way” politics - paid tribute to Mr Blair's leadership as he took the stage as the star of the last full day of the Labour gathering.