AN East Lancashire councillor took to the stage at her first ever Labour Party conference to launch a broadside at those still squabbling over Iraq.

Blackburn with Darwen councillor Patricia McFall urged the conference to put aside its divisions over the war and back government efforts to rebuild the country.

She defied the view of the town's Constituency Labour Party to back local MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Prime Minister Tony Blair over the military action to depose Saddam Hussein.

Coun McFall, who represents Little Harwood and Whitebirk, said it was time to move on and told the Bournemouth conference: "My own Constituency Labour Party voted to oppose the War on Iraq.

"After a long debate, with passionate views expressed on both sides, they felt that they could not support Britain's decision to commit troops to the region.

"I disagreed with that. I thought Tony Blair was correct in the difficult decision he had to make -- though I respected the right of my fellow party members to speak out against it.

"But now we need to move on. We cannot keep going over and over the past. What has happened has happened. What is done is done.

"Now we must turn our attention to the future. After this difficult time I urge Jack, my local MP, to keep striving to strengthen the ties that bind countries together and not give up hope for a more democratic world. But I have to say I am appalled by the demand coming from some parts of the left about he situation in the region.

"The idea that we should walk away from post conflict Iraq right now: before water and power is fully restored; before the hospitals and schools are built; before there is a fully formed police force to keep the peace; and before the people of Iraq have had the time to heal their wounds and rebuild the democratic institutions they are crying out for and abandon our commitment to finish the peace is abhorrent to me.

"It should be abhorrent to everyone who shares the basic belief that we have responsibilities to others that extend beyond our borders.

"Tony, you have been accused of having blood on your hands. For all the deaths in this war -- British, American and Iraqi. I do not believe that.

"But if you turned your back now -- as to your credit you have promised never to do -- then maybe that charge would be accurate.

"So let's keep faith. Let's keep going forward and help the people of Iraq build a better future for themselves.''

Afterwards, Coun McFall, who was selected as a speaker after applying to conference organisers: "I was very nervous but I have been thinking about this for a couple of weeks, since I knew I was coming to conference.

"I took my time writing it to make sure I said what I meant but I just felt strongly this was something I wanted to do."