May 7, 2005	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 27, 1426

LONDON, May 6: Britain’s Tony Blair withstood anger over the Iraq war to secure a historic third straight victory on Friday — but a slashed majority in parliament could sink his ambition to serve out a full term. “Iraq has been a deeply divisive issue in this country ... (But) after this election people want to move on,” the chastened prime minister said in a victory speech after returning home to 10 Downing Street in London.

“I’ve listened and I’ve learned and I think I’ve a very clear idea of what the people want for a third term.” Mr Blair became the third of the key global allies in Iraq — after US and Australian leaders George Bush and John Howard — to win re-election post-war.

Although abandoned by some former supporters as untrustworthy, Mr Blair has secured his place in British history, becoming the only leader other than Margaret Thatcher to win three elections in a row.

He is also the first leader to win three successive terms for Labour _ the socialist party founded a century ago and now the dominant force of the British centre-left. With most results in, Mr Blair was heading for a majority of 70 seats or less in the 646-seat House of Commons, sharply down from 161 last time. His biggest problems have come not from the Conservatives but rather from within his own party.

A hard core of between 30 and 40 Labour members of parliament (MPs) have voted consistently against Mr Blair in the last two years, with more defying him on individual issues. Final results seemed unlikely to cut the size of that ‘Awkward Squad’ by much.

ALL-TIME LOW: Projections suggested Labour only secured 36 per cent of the vote, an all-time low for a winning party, with many voters accusing Mr Blair of misleading them by hyping intelligence on Iraq’s weapons to justify the invasion.

Mr Blair’s reduced majority could now hinder his legislative programme and hasten a handover to his powerful finance minister and assumed heir Gordon Brown, analysts said.

Despite keeping a mainly sombre face during the day, Mr Blair managed a smile during a party with Labour Party loyalists in London, grinning and telling activists: “It’s an extraordinary achievement ... I love you!”

The mood among Labour members, however, contrasted with the euphoria of Mr Blair’s first landslide victory in 1997. Mr Blair, who turned 52 on Friday, has said he plans to stand down at the end of a third term.

He promised a “radical programme” of domestic reforms in health, education, immigration and law and order policies. On the international front, Mr Blair said poverty in Africa, climate change and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were his priorities.—Reuters

Party position

Party                          Seats

Labour Party                   355
Conservative                   197
Liberal Democrats               62
Scottish National                6
Plaid Cymru (Wales)              3