Britain: A shock parliamentary defeat for Tony Blair sparked questions yesterday over the British prime minister's ability to govern with a reduced majority and a restive party.
Mr Blair denied his authority was waning after he suffered on Tuesday his second and third defeats on a major policy issue since he came to power in 1997, with all three losses coming since he won his third term in May last year.
The prime minister's spokesman acknowledged ministers had botched calculations of the size of opposition to parts of a Bill to ban people from stirring up religious hatred.
Analysts said the votes signalled tough times ahead for Mr Blair, who has said he will not run for office again and whose public service reforms are opposed by many in his Labour Party.
Some Labour MPs said the defeats showed Mr Blair was losing what was once an iron grip on his troops. Many have a taste for revolt and have key education reforms in their sights.
"It's becoming increasingly difficult for him to get what he wants in terms of public sector reform," said Wyn Grant, politics professor at Warwick University.
The House of Commons refused late on Tuesday to overturn changes made by the House of Lords to the Bill on racial and religious hatred.
Despite a Labour majority of more than 60, Mr Blair had to settle for a law that is a watered- down version of his original proposals that critics said attacked freedom of speech.
Mr Blair lost one amendment by 10 votes and a second by one vote, all the more embarrassing since he did not himself cast a ballot.
"Following the two defeats in the House last night, what confidence can the country have that you will be able to carry your agenda?" asked David Cameron, whose election last year as Conservative leader has revived the main opposition party.
At the top of Mr Blair's agenda are plans to give more independence to schools, a critical part of his reform project.
More than 90 Labour MPs oppose the education Bill, which is expected to be put to a vote in March.
"Put it like this, I think for the education vote it's probably a good idea if I turn up," Mr Blair joked to Mr Cameron.
"We will carry through the programme of change and reform, in particular in relation to schools, welfare and anti-social behaviour and crime, because we believe it is the right agenda for the country," he said.
Defeat on the education proposals, being forced to water them down or having to rely on Conservative votes to carry them into law could prove hugely damaging for Mr Blair, analysts said.
"It is symptomatic of the fact the government does have a smaller majority so it is more vulnerable," said John Curtice, politics professor at Strathclyde University.
Mr Blair's majority was slashed in the May election, in part because of anger over the Iraq war. He suffered his first major parliamentary defeat last year over plans to detain terrorism suspects for up to 90 days without trial. - (Reuters)