BRITAIN: British prime minister Tony Blair has appealed to English voters to see nine days of damaging headlines for his government in the context of its "nine years of achievement". Frank Millar, London Editor, reports.
On the eve of local elections which could determine the duration of his stay in 10 Downing Street, Mr Blair sought to balance and refocus an increasingly frantic national debate, declaring: "The whole point about government is that there are challenges. No government ever fails to make mistakes.
"No government ever fails to encounter difficulties. But the question is, when you step back and you look at the big picture, not each and every detail of it, is there improvement happening?"
And he had a reminder - and a warning - for rebel Labour MPs plotting to destabilise his position in the event of bad results in tomorrow's elections.
"Yes, it's difficult in government, especially as you go on, and when you are into the third term of a government it is especially difficult," Mr Blair told his trade union audience, before adding: "The third term of government is better than the fourth term of opposition."
That call for unity coupled with a reminder of Labour's wilderness years in opposition came on the ninth anniversary of Mr Blair's arrival in Number 10, and as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said tomorrow's local elections would inevitably be used by many voters "as a referendum" on the prime minister's performance.
However, it did not prevent Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle repeating his call for home secretary Charles Clarke to "consider his position", as sustained Conservative pressure ensured Mr Clarke will now give MPs an update on the search for foreign prisoners released without being considered for deportation this afternoon. The Tories had suspected Mr Clarke of seeking to avoid a potentially bruising encounter on the floor of the Commons ahead of tomorrow's poll.
However, Commons speaker Michael Martin said the home secretary had given the assurance of a further report following opposition requests for an urgent statement in the house, and as Conservative leader David Cameron told Mr Blair it was time to carry out a cabinet reshuffle and "say goodbye" to Mr Clarke.
Amid signs of widening concern among women Labour MPs about the position of deputy prime minister John Prescott, following his admission of an affair with his former diary secretary, Mr Cameron maintained Mr Prescott's affair was a private matter while it was "obvious" Mr Clarke would have to go.
One report yesterday suggested Mr Blair was having to plan two possible reshuffles - one allowing that Mr Clarke might hang on to his job, the other that he could be forced out by the discovery of one of the prisoners released on his watch having reoffended.
However, one of those tipped as a possible replacement home secretary - defence secretary John Reid - yesterday backed both Mr Clarke and Mr Prescott to retain their positions.
Following further alleged incidents of sexual harassment, Labour MP Geraldine Smith gave the first hint that Mr Prescott could be facing a backlash among women colleagues. Accusing Mr Prescott of "the worst sort of abuse of power", Ms Smith said: "It's as old as Adam - the male employer taking advantage of the young employee. It looks pretty appalling. It is taking advantage of a junior employee and I think most women MPs will be quite alarmed by that." But Dr Reid insisted Mr Prescott's affair was "a private matter" and that he and his wife should be given time to sort it out.