IT SEEMS like old times -- the hard Left giving the Labour leadership earache and presenting an image of a party divided.

But if that is how this year's party conference looks to have begun, with hardline leftwingers grabbing four of the six national executive seats allotted to party members, the reality is much more like the days of Tory government when Margaret Thatcher commanded a steamroller majority at Westminster.

For just as Maggie brooked no dissent, so will Tony Blair shrug off the old Labour reactionaries, even though they have spoiled the start of the show for him this year.

That is because their taking of four NEC seats does nothing to upset New Labour's grip on power.

It still commands a four-to-one majority on the executive.

And, in any case, the government's strength at Westminster is such that the even the NEC's strings have only academic pulling power.

Mr Blair, in fact, has shown where he and his government stand.

There will be no retreat for modernisation, he told the dissenters buoyed by the hard Left revival.

The Thatcher-style 'Tony's-not-for-turning' is evident, too, in the refusal of the leadership to listen to the Left's siren call for a return to the days of tax and spend and for government intervention as job losses lead to pressure for interest rate cuts.

Like Maggie, Mr Blair is not being deflected from the fight against inflation, even though the activists may parade at Blackpool demanding Old Labour action to stop factory closures, to reverse anti-union legislation, to bring in a higher rate of income tax and adopt a much higher minimum wage.

They and their outlook are clearly regarded as Labour's past and the Left's triumph in the NEC polls is seen only as a minor setback like that of last year when "Red" Ken Livingstone beat New Labour guru, Peter Mandelson, to a seat on the executive.

The Left's revival is, however, a warning that the government cannot get too distant from the party in its efforts to stay close to the voters.

But meantime Mr Blair has a clear majority of the party behind him -- because he and the government have been so successful so far.

But events -- like a recession -- may test this assurance and give the dissenters greater opportunity and influence than they have at present.

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