It is normally customary for a performance to end before the reviews are issued. In the case of Gordon Brown’s address to the Labour Party conference yesterday, however, it is alleged that the Prime Minister’s wife reached a conclusion before the Chancellor arrived at the second page of his oration. These matters are, though, as Downing Street was eager, possibly desperate, to point out, often misinterpreted. It may have been “That’s a lie”, but, equally, it could have been “Let me by”, “A lovely tie” or “Hi-de-hi” instead.

If Cherie Blair had been able to listen to the whole of Mr Brown’s address, then “That one will fly” is the conclusion she would surely have come to. The Chancellor’s speech was more strategic than Cicero, managed than moving, inclusive than inspiring, but that is what suited the moment. He was speaking mainly to the audience in the hall, a body of activists who have been confused by the factionalism of recent weeks and who wanted to be reassured that Mr Brown is the man to carry their colours.

His words will not have ended speculation about the leadership and whether he will face a serious challenge, yet they will have placed that debate in a different context. Mr Brown was rightly flattering about the Prime Minister without laying it on with an implausibly large trowel, and he was wise to concede his regret about their past disputes (a statement that he charitably made on Mr Blair’s behalf as well). He did his best to reach out to Cabinet colleagues by praising their efforts, although this process of dialogue should not end once Labour has left Manchester. He struck a balance between hinting at the direction he would take as Prime Minister without seeming to disown the administration in which he must serve at the Treasury for several more months. He stuck to the political centre ground, which Labour abandons at its peril, while making overtures to some of those who have drifted away from the party since 1997. At times he appeared to be deliberately declining the chance to move into the top gear of rhetorical flourishes. That, too, was appropriate for the occasion. If Mr Brown was trying to place a vast plaster over Labour’s (self-inflicted) wounds, he largely succeeded.

The task for Mr Blair today is different. He is a liberated man, with no obligation to appease either party or public, an outer date for his departure established and a place in history that is assured although he cannot be sure he will agree with every part of that assessment. He has a unique opportunity in the coming months to talk to the country and the international community about the lessons he has learnt and the challenges of the future. What he will be paid a fortune for on the lecture circuit, the British public can enjoy without being charged. He should take the chance to set up that series of talks in his speech today and reciprocate Mr Brown’s remarks about him.

When he does eventually move on, Labour Party conferences will not be the same. For more than a decade, they have been dominated by the extraordinary Blair-Brown family which has proved brilliant, compelling and dysfunctional at the same time. Labour has ultimately benefited from being able to offer voters “two for the price of one”, even if the two have never quite agreed on which is the better item. It has been a show like no other. It now falls to Mr Blair to bring down the curtain with candour, dignity and style.