and, in a sense, that's what his removal of Clause 4 from the Labour party constitution was, years earlier.
Here's a link to the full text of the 1999 "forces of conservatism" speech (he uses the phrase incessantly in it); while it has plenty of attacks on the Conservative party (as you'd expect in a speech in the yearly party conference), it's notable for attacking his own party too:
For the 21st century will not be about the battle between capitalism and socialism but between the forces of progress and the forces of conservatism.
They are what hold our nation back. Not just in the Conservative Party but within us, within our nation.
...
It would be comforting to think the forces of conservatism were only Tories. But wrong.
There were forces of conservatism who said changing Clause 4 would destroy the Labour Party, when in truth it was critical to our renewal.
...
The Third Way is not a new way between progressive and conservative politics.
It is progressive politics distinguishing itself from conservatism of left or right.
New Labour must be the new radicals who take on both of them, not just on election day but every day.
...
Let us take on the forces of conservatism in education, too, the greatest liberator of human potential there is.
No more nursery vouchers.
No return to 11+.
No freeze on student numbers in our universities.
No more Assisted Places Scheme.
Not the right. But not the old Left either: no tolerance of failing LEAs.
No truce on failing schools.
No pupils condemned to failure.
...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/460009.stmAnd, for reference, the old Clause 4:
To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.
and what replaced it:
To these ends we work for:
a dynamic economy, serving the public interest, in which the enterprise of the market and the rigour of competition are joined with the forces of partnership and co-operation to produce the wealth the nation needs and the opportunity for all to work and prosper, with a thriving public sector and high quality services, where those undertakings essential to the common good are either owned by the public or accountable to them;