Blair faces calls to resign following terror defeat

Tony Blair has faced calls to resign as Prime Minister following the defeat in the House of Commons of proposals to detain terror suspects for 90 days.

Conservative leader Michael Howard said that Mr Blair should stand aside, as he had been “utterly humiliated” by Wednesday’s vote.

However, Mr Blair, who met with his Cabinet today, accused some MPs of being "out of touch" with public opinion and said that he hoped they had not made the “wrong decision” by not voting for the proposals.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Blair said: “I think… it was my duty to put it before people. It is the right of the House of Commons – we live in a parliamentary democracy.

“I think it was a wrong decision – I just hope in a longer time we don’t rue it.”

Home Secretary Charles Clarke attempted to claim responsibility for the defeat of the proposals, saying that he had misjudged support for the 90-day detention proposals, as well as the ‘sunset clause’ measures, allowing the plans to be re-examined by Parliament in a year’s time.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Blair’s spokesperson said that the government was “disappointed” with the defeat, but stressed that the Terrorism Bill contained major measures, which would help in the fight against terrorism.

He also said that the Prime Minister would “in no way” allow Mr Clarke to accept the blame for the defeat of the proposals.

MPs rejected plans to allow terror suspects to be held for 90 days without charge by 322 votes to 291 at Wednesday’s vote. Instead, they voted for the compromise of extending the limit from 14 days to 28 days.

It was the first defeat in the Commons for Mr Blair since he became Prime Minister in 1997.

Commenting on the defeat, Mr Howard said: "It is bad for the country to have a Prime Minister who has lost all authority and it is bad for the country to have a Prime Minister who is no longer accountable to the country."

"Mr Blair cannot carry his own party on a matter which is of fundamental importance to the country. It is an unhealthy situation and it would be best for the future of the country if he were to step aside."

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy echoed Mr Howard’s comments, saying that the Wednesday’s vote had been “a bad day for his (Mr Blair’s) authority. He said: “This is now a chastened Prime Minister and this should lead to a reassertion of collective cabinet government.

"Tony Blair must realise that 35% of the vote in a General Election does not allow him to ride roughshod over democracy in the House of Commons.”

It is now feared that Mr Blair could face more revolts from rebel Labour backbenchers over further planned reforms to education and health.

(KMcA/GB)