Jack Straw richly deserved the standing ovation he received as he addressed the Labour Party conference for the final time as a frontbencher.

He has given enormous service to the party and the country as a leading figure in the government and a big player on the world stage.

Yesterday’s reception reflects the respect felt for a man who was really in his stride and internationally-acclaimed as Foreign Secretary when Tony Blair decided to move him – a decision the former Premier now rues and described in his autobiography as ‘plain stupid.’ The Blackburn MP is a consumate politician with a personal charm recognised by those who know him but which perhaps has never been fully projected through TV and transformed into the kind of mass public acclaim that seems to be a prerequisite for a successful Prime Minister.

His effectiveness as a politician has brought great benefits to the borough over the years in a wide range of areas.

At his peak, Jack Straw had the skills and charm to have become leader but he didn’t sufficiently cultivate the blocks of votes needed to make it into the party’s top post.

Recognising that a new era is dawning, he is stepping back from the front line but let’s hope his contribution to public life is far from over.