Conference highlights

<preform> Out in the cold </b></p> </h2> Robin Cook, the former Foreign Secretary. was forced to utter apologies for his late appearance at a fringe this week. The reason? Security guards refused to admit him to the conference centre on the grounds his face was not recognisable when his photo was scanned. Mr Cook looked hurt, insisting his face looked "lived in".</p>In from the cold</b></p>Ken Livingstone, who made his first appearance on stage at a Labour conference this week. The former scourge of Tony Blair was allowed at the top table for a debate on the Olympics. "This is the first time I have ever been on the Labour platform," he beamed. "I could never get to the platform in the old days."</p>Back in the fold</b></p>Tony Blair deigned to be interviewed by John Humphrys, the veteran Radio 4 presenter, yesterday morning for the first time since 2001. The Today programme anchor was proclaimed persona non grata by No 10 after asking the Prime Minister too many questions in the last general election about Keith Vaz, the former Europe minister who was the subject of a sleaze inquiry at the time. Rumours were rife that for this week's performance Mr Humphrys rehearsed his tenacious series of questions about trust in the PM with Rod Liddle, former producer of Today, standing in for Mr Blair.</p>Blair moment</b></p>The beaming Prime Minister following Bono off stage like a puppy after the rock star's storming performance.</p>Brown moment</b></p>The Chancellor grinned ear to ear when Bono described him and Mr Blair as the Lennon and McCartney of politics.</p>Today's agenda</b></p>11am</b> Emergency debate on Iraq. 2.15pm</b> John Prescott's closing speech to conference. </p></preform>