Shrunken majority threatens UK's re-elected Blair

A vastly reduced majority could frustrate the efforts of re-elected British Prime Minister Tony Blair to push his agenda through parliament and serve out a full third term in office.

As the dust settled yesterday on Blair's third straight election victory, a first for his centre-left Labour party, attention swung to the effect on Labour policy of having a majority of just 66 seats, down from 161 last time.

"He is going to have to compromise," said Labour left-winger Mark Seddon, a member of the party's executive.

Blair promised on Friday a "radical programme" of domestic reforms in health, education, immigration and crime policies. Abroad, he said poverty in Africa, climate change and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were his priorities.

Blair aides put forward the argument that revolt was easy for hardcore Labour rebels when they knew their leader's huge majority would carry the day. Now, they would risk fatally damaging their own government and may think twice.

But even a cursory glance at Labour's parliamentary line-up shows about 40 have been serial opponents of the premier since he waged war in Iraq and are unlikely to change their spots.

If they gang up with opposition parties, Blair's majority vanishes at a stroke - plans for compulsory identity cards and more anti-terrorism measures are obvious potential casualties.

"Tony Blair needs to reflect on whether he can successfully modify his way of working and cut with the grain of the values, ethos and priorities of the Labour party," said former foreign secretary Robin Cook, who quit the government over Iraq.

Until now, Blair has often made a public virtue of opposing left-wing traditionalists in his ranks. He cannot any longer. Blair has pledged to serve a full third term and not seek a fourth. But Labour insiders say that ambition looks far-fetched. He could be gone within a year if he fails to persuade eurosceptic Britons to back a European Union constitution in a promised referendum.

With Labour winning only 36 per cent of the national vote - the lowest share ever for a victorious party - many Labour MPs now see Blair as a liability rather than an asset.

Cook said Blair had already secured his place in British history, becoming the only leader other than Margaret Thatcher to win three elections in a row.

"He needs to consider deeply whether the best way of safeguarding his legacy may be to do his party the final service of stepping down sooner rather than later," he said.

Newspapers were filled with speculation over the longer-term fate of the prime minister.

The day after Blair told Britons he had listened to their concerns and pledged to respond wisely and sensibly, the left-leaning Guardian said time was running out for him.

Others contrasted the shock resignation of opposition Conservative leader Michael Howard with Blair's determination to cling to power.

"As hero Howard quits, why doesn't Blair take the hint?" asked the Daily Express under the banner: "It's time to go".

The Daily Mail said he faced "a lingering political death".

Waiting in the wings is Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer and assumed heir. Power is already visibly transferring to Brown after Blair acknowledged early during the election campaign that he could not win well without him.

Brown, 54, is widely credited with masterminding Britain's strong economy, which has outperformed its European neighbours during a global downturn.

One bright spot for the premier was Howard's departure, which plunged the once-mighty Conservative party into fresh turmoil, weakening it while contenders vie for the leadership.