Tony Woodley, Transport and General Workers Union official, said he believed an Alchemy deal could still be done within hours.

BBC: The Rover assembly line

"We're opposed to a deregulated Europe where workers' rights are pushed to one side", said Tony Young, the President of the British Trades Union Congress.

BBC: EU struggles with reform task

The general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union was speaking on the Labour conference fringe just hours after Tony Blair had given the party gathered in Brighton the highlight of its week - the leader's speech.

BBC: Labour's roots poke through