Tony Blair urged Labour MPs and peers to unite to take on the Tory challenge as they gathered at Westminster for the first time since the summer's in-fighting.
Confrontation over the Prime Minister's timetable for quitting Downing Street was largely avoided when he addressed the Parliamentary Labour Party behind closed doors.
One MP who was present said the issue was raised only twice, and briefly, during the whole hour-long session, with the mood rather one of looking forward not back.
Walsall North MP David Winnick told the meeting that September's "intrigues" had been "totally unacceptable" and warned of any return to a period in the wilderness for the party.
That week of turmoil saw the resignation of eight junior Government members and culminated in Mr Blair promising to stand down within 12 months.
And Chancellor Gordon Brown was also forced to publicly reject suggestions he had been behind a confidential letter to Mr Blair from some Labour MPs calling on him to quit.
One backbencher used the meeting to demand an "orderly transition" to Mr Brown, Mr Winnick said.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister had highlighted the need for a "united, strong, stable Government and party" that controlled and was driving forward the policy agenda.
A "strong" Queen's speech - setting out a new legislative programme - had to be combined with action to expose the "muddle" and "weakness" of the Tories, especially on the NHS.
Mr Blair also faced questions on the timing of a debate and vote on the renewal of the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent and on Afghanistan, a spokesman said.
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