Blair defends record ahead of local election

Tony Blair. Picture / Reuters

LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair hit the campaign trial in the north-west of England on Tuesday ahead of local elections this week as question marks loom over the future of two senior ministers.

Speaking to trade union members in Blackpool, Blair defended Labour's track record in government while acknowledging that no administration operated without making some mistakes.

"Nine days of headlines should not obscure nine years of achievements," Blair said, referring to recent scandals that have engulfed the government.

"When you are in government you have to take the hard decisions and sometimes you make mistakes," said Blair.

The prime minister said scandals over Home Secretary Charles Clarke and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott should not obscure the good things Labour had done.

Blair's personal ratings have fallen to their lowest level since he took over as Labour leader 12 years ago, while a majority think his government is "sleazy and incompetent", a poll showed on Sunday.

Clarke has rejected calls for his resignation over the bungled release of 1,000 foreign prisoners, while Prescott is under pressure over an affair with a civil servant in his department.

Conservative leader David Cameron said an inquiry should be held if it was established that Prescott had broken the ministerial code.

"His private affair is a private matter," Cameron told BBC radio. "Clearly he looks a fool but our job in opposition is to call him to account on his ministerial record."

The Daily Telegraph newspaper said support for both ministers was waning among Labour backbench MPs.

Labour MP Stephen Pound has urged Prescott to "consider his position."

Clarke sparked a furore last week when he said 1,023 foreign prisoners, including murderers and rapists, were released after serving their sentences when they should have been considered for deportation.

The home secretary has said he intends to stay in the job to ensure the mess is sorted out.

In an interview at the weekend Clarke told his local newspaper he had tried to be a reforming home secretary.

"We have still got some challenges which still need to be completed and I think I am the best person to carry that through," he told the Eastern Daily Press newspaper.

- REUTERS