I am no Tony Blair apologist never having voted for New Labour, but in fairness to him I actually believe that a New Labour government with a majority of less than 100 is virtually uncontrollable whoever is the leader or whatever the make up of the cabinet. If Gordon Brown was to become leader then he would have a honeymoon period, but if he continues with the New Labour project he will in time find he has the same difficulties. The disparate factions within New Labour will always prove difficult to manage. Perhaps Blair and Cameron should form a new centrist party which would then leave the extremes of both New Labour and the Conservatives well on the fringes. Antony Gibbs, Brentwood

Tony Blair isn’t losing his grip, he is just learning what democracy is all about. Before there was only arrogance from our Prime Minister... hopefully now he will learn there are other views besides his own. The trouble is Blair came in on a huge majority and he got it into his head that whatever he said, whatever he wanted was right and should be pushed through. Not the case, never was the case. That is the trouble with arrogance, it can force you to take your eye of the ball. Glenn Renshaw, Newbury

The Times leader talks of Mr Blair not being wholly in charge of the Government. I don't think he has ever been in charge. Yes he is the elected leader of New Labour but one gets the impression that just as he was led by George W Bush over Iraq he is also a puppet to “advisers” at home. Give him a script to learn and he can deliver it with the conviction of an Oscar nominee. Catch him “off the cuff” and he is a different animal, reminiscent of a rabbit trapped in the headlights. Richard Gill, Carlisle

I may be a lone voice but Tony Blair has not been a bad Prime Minister; we have had far worse. The problem is, this country is not producing leaders and politicians of sufficient quality and ability, visionaries who are capable of translating far reaching policies into reality. Most of them are sub-standard, lucky to be elected and eager to keep their positions - no matter what the cost. The public doesn't like or trust them; they are seen as weak, full of self-interest and of poor moral character. Judged against this, Tony Blair is placed somewhere near the top of the bunch. He looks the part and has the self-assurance, confidence and sufficient sincerity to demand some respect - even from his fiercest critics and opponents. If you doubt this, just put him up against John Major. There is a further characteristic prevalent amongst the Right Honourable Members who sit around the Prime Minister in the House of Commons; when they smell blood, they cannot resist gathering as a pack - as individuals they are too insignificant - and going for the kill. It is undignified, not in the national interest to take action for political reasons rather than what is good for the country, sickening and blatantly obvious. Tony Blair has to go but let him leave with some dignity. Keith Downer, London

It seems clear from recent events that the Labour MPs are revolting! But I'm not sure what Tony Blair can do to affect this situation - it would seem that he is fast becoming 'yesterday's man'. However, in this instance I'm jolly glad that the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill has faltered. The last thing we need is a law to protect religions from criticism. As far as I'm concerned, if you choose to follow an irrational religious belief you deserve all the criticism you get. This, after all, is the 21st Century and we should be beyond the voodoo, witchcraft and 'old men with white beards sitting on clouds' stage. In addition, the thing that really worries me is the motives of a law makers, several of whom seem quite fervent in their own religious beliefs. Paul Pickering, Camberley

Tony Blair has been an excellent Conservative prime minister. That is why he won elections. All the right qualifications too - famous public school and university. He was able to persuade old Labour that they would never win again unless they moved to the centre ground. He is now losing his rearguard action against true socialists, and his administrative abilities are proving inadequate. How can we throw money at the NHS and STILL find it is not enough? And in Iraq Tony Blair has been economical with the truth. Yes, It is time for him to go - voluntarily or pushed. Brian Lewis, Manila, Philippines

Far from his failure to vote in “the hate bill” being humiliating, I believe Mr Blair deserves increased respect (from however low a level) for his abstention. Anyone who believes that Mr Blair personally advocates every tyrannical policy launched by our overblown control-freak bureaucracy cannot have the least idea of work-loads or how organisations operate. As leader of the mob, Mr Blair must from time to time accept inputs from it of which he personally disapproves. Although he would certainly have thrown the cat among the vultures if he had voted against the clause, as a voter he could and should have been driven by his personal opinion of it. Since it destroyed the age-old English objection to tyranny, he and every other right-minded MP should have done their best to defeat it and abstaining was the nearest he could get to that task. Thank heavens he succeeded. When will the politically correct learn that hate is not a crime it is an instinctive built-in emotion as strong or stronger than its corollary love. Morality depends on hatred of immorality; honesty of dishonesty and crime. It is the result of the bureaucratic drive to make us all unconditionally tolerant laissez faire hedonists that is destroying our traditional values. John Carter, Berkhamstead

If Labour intend to win the next election with Brown as their leader, the longer Tony Blair stays as PM the longer Brown is shielded from Cameron - which can only do Brown a favour. Cameron is the natural heir to Blair. Peter Maclean, Rock Sound, Bahamas

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