Iraq images shock Britain, but Blair is safe

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20701998.htm

Iraq images shock Britain, but Blair is safe

LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A burning British soldier scrambles out of his flaming tank as angry Iraqis hurl rocks and petrol bombs. The striking images from Basra are splashed across the front page of nearly every British newspaper.

A few months ago British Prime Minister Tony Blair might have suffered the fallout. Now, safely re-elected for a third and final term, the war in Iraq can no longer bring him down.

"The pictures are very dramatic, and I think it's possible for opponents of the government to get some mileage. But it will not shake the government," said Wyn Grant, professor of politics at Warwick University in Britain. "The election is over."

But it can still change the way history remembers Blair.

[Tempest]

1. Blair is not safe

His party lost most of their seats in the last election and they no longer have the majority.

The other parties can prevent Blair from getting anything done in Parliament, and they have already come together as a coalition.

Blair's own party are trying to get him to resign in order to stop the damage he's caused them.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. No, Labour does still have an absolute majority

State of the parties at 7 August 2005
Labour 353
...
Total 645

Government majority 65

http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hcio/stateparties.cfm

There is no current movement inside Labour to get Blair to resign. Are you sure you're not thinking of an entirely separate country?