Most Britons want Blair out

LONDON: Pressure grew on British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday to step down soon as a newspaper poll said that most voters want him to resign immediately.

Blair, who has said he will leave office by September, was also told that it was “time to move on” by a respected lawmaker from his Labour Party who wants to be deputy leader on the premier’s departure. The interventions come at the end of a tough week for Blair as officials revealed that he had been questioned for a second time in the “cash for honours” probe threatening to overshadow his final months in power.

A growing chorus of Labour lawmakers now say that Blair’s authority is leeching away because of the investigation and claim he is a lame duck after earlier announcing that he would leave office later this year.

An ICM poll for Sunday Express found that 56 per cent of people thought Blair should quit now while 37 per cent back him to stay on.

Support for him to resign straight away appeared to be increasing among supporters of his party, with 43 per cent saying it is time for him to go — and go now. The cash-for-honours probe is looking at allegations that political parties illegally offered seats in Britain’s House of Lords in return for financial assistance.