Blair loses key ally as political difficulties rise

Problems are mounting for the prime minister, who has declared he will not fight another election after winning a third term in May—a move analysts say risks his authority waning as the clock winds down on his premiership.

“We have seen the slow seepage of his authority turn into a haemorrhage,” Michael Howard, leader of the opposition Conservatives, told a packed parliament after Blunkett quit. “For how long will this country have to put up with this lame duck prime minister, in office but not in power?”

Last week, ministers split openly over issues ranging from a ban on smoking in public to an overhaul of the state education system, previously unthinkable for a government which had imposed iron discipline since taking power in 1997. Blair is also facing an increasingly restive parliamentary party, ready to defy him on a number of issues.

A stiff test will come later on Wednesday when some Labour MPs will oppose key aspects of Blair’s counter-terrorism bill, notably a proposal to give police powers to hold suspects for up to 90 days without charge.

Blunkett, who overcame blindness and a poor childhood to become one of Britain’s most powerful politicians, said he had quit to protect Blair from damage.

“Tony asked me to stay,” he said. “It could only have damaged the prime minister if I had stayed on.”

Blunkett (59) had been under fire for accepting jobs while out of office, without going through a required procedure for former ministers taking private sector work. He quit his previous government post of home secretary in a sex and abuse-of-office scandal after an inquiry found his office had speeded up a visa for his American lover’s nanny.

Blair gave him a new government job just six months later. —Reuters