The transformation from old to New Labour is now complete.

Four year's after Tony Blair assumed the party's leadership and set out on a radical programme of reforms, the old guard, in the form of Labour's National Executive Committee, has followed suit.

The party's ruling executive, often described as its socialist conscience, has abandoned Labour's former headquarters in south London in favour of its new nerve centre across the river at Millbank.

In a deeply symbolic move John Smith House, which was named in tribute to Tony Blair's predecessor, has been put up for sale.

Labour took up residence in the late 18th century terrace during its last term in power in 1978.

Those were the days of socialist ideology, left wing strife and union supremecy - associations that are a world away from today's Labour government.

A year later the Conservatives came to power, demoting Labour and Walworth Road to opposition status.

During the 1980s the building served as a backdrop to much of Labour's bitter in-fighting, with hardline left-wingers lining up on the front steps to jeer party leaders.

By the time of last year's general election, Walworth Road had already been sidelined by Labour reformers in favour of the slick modernity of Millbank Tower.

Situated in one of London's smartest neighbourhoods, close to the Tate Gallery, Millbank was home to a hi-tech media control centre that helped secure election victory.

Earlier this month Tony Blair called in contemporary design guru Sir Terence Conran to advise on remodelling the office block.

Labour MP Helen Brinton welcomed the move. "I'm not sorry about those 18 years in opposition. Those years of happy days in Walworth Road were days of misery,' she said.

But for street cleaner Leslie Chambers, who swept the pavement outside the old Labour HQ, said he would miss the demonstrations and shouting.
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