Blair vows to stay

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, facing a fight for the centre ground with a Conservative opposition revived under its new leader, yesterday vowed to stay in office until he has seen through a programme of reforms.

Polls show youthful Conservative leader David Cameron is making headway in moving to the middle ground in his bid to oust Mr Blair's Labour Party at the next election, expected in 2009.

Already Mr Cameron's success looks to have put pressure on the leader of Britain's third party, the Liberal Democrats, who are positioned in the centre ground over which Labour and the Conservatives are battling, say analysts.

"We are seeing a changing landscape. Cameron is the only Conservative in the last 12 years to have had any impact on their share of the vote," said Nick Sparrow of pollsters ICM.

By making a strong commitment to the National Health Service and addressing concerns about the environment and poverty, Mr Cameron has shown he wants to fight Mr Blair on the ground Labour conquered in the mid-1990s.

Analysts say that puts Mr Blair in a stronger position to battle Mr Cameron in the run up to the next election than the premier's expected successor Gordon Brown, seen as slightly more leftist.

"Cameron is trying to occupy the middle ground which Blair has won and he thinks Brown may lose," said one Labour lawmaker.

Mr Blair has said he will bow out before the election, but the exact timing is unclear. He wants to push through education and welfare benefit reforms, opposed by some in his party.

He told the Sun newspaper that he was determined to remain for the bulk of his third term in office.

"I am not going anywhere," he said. "I am here and I am going to see the whole programme through."

He also gave his strongest backing yet to Mr Brown as his eventual successor.

Few Labour lawmakers see any realistic challenger to Mr Brown, who has built a formidable reputation. But some analysts say he might not be the best choice to fight Mr Cameron.

An ICM survey last month showed the Conservatives' lead over Labour stretched to five points if 39-year-old Cameron were to contest the next election against Mr Brown, from one point under Mr Blair.

"Brown seems unstoppable as the next Labour leader but it may not be a winning formula," said Mr Sparrow.

"Under these circumstances you could say that Labour should skip a generation and find someone new."