MOST OF Britain’s voters believe that Tony Blair has run out of steam and is destined to achieve little more as Prime Minister, an opinion poll for The Times finds today.

The Populus survey suggests a growing polarisation about Mr Blair's future. It underlines the impatience of the electorate at large about his performance after weeks of turmoil over the loans-for-peerages row. But among Labour supporters there is increasing support for Mr Blair’s strategy of staying on for the foreseeable future.

The findings come after Mr Blair began a spirited fightback from the loans scandal and warfare with the allies of Gordon Brown by countering suggestions that he was a lame-duck prime minister on his way out.

Downing Street hastily organised interviews for Mr Blair in which he tried to calm the Brown camp after a series of attacks on him by the so-called Blairite “outriders”. But at the same time he strove to end speculation that resurfaced during his trip to Australia last week by emphasising the “massive amount” he still has to do. In a BBC interview he gave the clearest hint that, while the political world expects him to go in 2007, his own preferred date might be 2008.

Mr Blair has privately indicated that he would not leave office until the health service has recovered from its funding crisis. But listing the reforms that he wants to complete, including welfare and pensions, and more measures against antisocial behaviour, Mr Blair mentioned the Government’s pledge to bring down NHS waiting times to a maximum of 18 weeks between seeing the doctor and having the operation.

Labour’s election manifesto sets the end of 2008 as the deadline for implementing that pledge and Blairite supporters were quick to maintain that that could be the year.

The Populus survey, taken over the weekend, suggests that despite Labour’s problems the party’s support is holding up in the polls. Labour is up one point since early March to 36 per cent and the Tories are down one point at 34 per cent.

The message for Mr Blair himself was mixed. Nearly three fifths of the public (57 per cent) believe that he has run out of steam and is unlikely to anything else as Prime Minister. But among Labour voters there is far less pressure for him to go.

Half of them (50 per cent) think he should remain until just before the next election, while fewer than three in ten (28 per cent) say he should go this year. Similarly, two thirds of Labour voters say that there are plenty of things he can still achieve, with only a third saying that he has run out of steam.

Among all voters nearly a half (47 per cent, a rise of six points since January) believe that he should step down, either now or by the end of this year. Just a third (33 per cent) back his stated policy of staying for most of this Parliament and think he should not go until just before the next election.

Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, who appeared with Mr Blair at the launch of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, told the BBC that Mr Blair should serve till 2008.

He said that the best outcome in 2008 would be for Mr Brown to take over “and I’d certainly support that”.

All sides in the leadership row, Blairites, Brownites, and the “outriders” for Blairism who spent much of last week attacking Mr Brown, appeared to have calmed down yesterday. The expectation at Westminster remains that Mr Blair will leave in 2007, although his efforts to try to end the turmoil were welcomed by MPs in both camps.

Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,503 adults aged over 18 between March 31 and April 2.

Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,503 adults aged over 18 between March 31 and April 2.

THE FUTURE

34% GO NOW
13% GO BY THE END OF THIS YEAR
9% GO NEXT YEAR
33% STAY UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION

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