Airstrip One

Blair Losing Party

Could that most unfriendly institution, the Labour Party, actually force the government into taking note of the national interest? According to a survey in the Times:

A Times survey of 100 Labour constituency chairmen in the party’s most marginal seats found that 60 expressed strong opposition to a war against Iraq. Only five said they would support the Prime Minister today if he decided to commit British troops. Ten refused to comment or said they were unable to decide.

This is bound to impact on MPs and any future leadership contenders (Mr Cook, Mr Brown).

Will this be Labour's Europe? Somehow I doubt it as Blair will be unable to straddle the divide as Major did and convince the non-Atlanticists that he is the biggest Americosceptic of the lot. Blair will either have to alienate the left in his party or betray the Atlanticists. Not only that but if he does go in, especially if the UN don't approve, then he can wave goodbye to being President of Europe.

I hesitate to make a prediction here, but Blair's ambitions may mean that Britain does not support any Mesopotamian adventure.