Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour Party suffered losses in initial results from Britain's local elections, indicating flagging voter support for his government after two weeks of damaging publicity.
With 94 of 176 local council results declared, Labour lost control 96 seats while the Conservative opposition gained 103 and the Liberal Democrats 7 seats, the British Broadcasting Corp. said. Labour lost control of seven councils.
``These elections actually tell us virtually nothing about the next general election, but will offer momentum, or the reverse, to the party leaders,'' said Robert Waller, author of ``The Almanac of British Politics,'' in an interview.
The voting for England's city and district councils is the biggest electoral test since Labour won a third term in office in May 2005. For Blair, 52, poor results may lead to renewed calls from his party to retire. He has already said he will not fight another general election.
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