A BACKLASH against the Iraq war was blamed today for disastrous local election results for the Labour Party as they were pushed into a humiliating third place.

Even government ministers admitted that Tony Blair had suffered a defeat in a mid-term protest over the controversial conflict, although they claimed it would not be repeated at the General Election.

With half the votes counted early today, Labour had lost more than 200 seats and the control of eight councils. Conservatives were jubilant at seizing control of Trafford, where they took 11 seats from Labour, and in Rossendale, where they had a clean sweep of a dozen seats.

There was also a shock defeat for Labour in St Helens where they gave up nine seats. In Rochdale, Labour lost its grip on the council. Liberal Democrats ended up with a record 38 of the 97 seats on Manchester city council. They also took control of Pendle and tightened their hold on Stockport.

As Labour licked their wounds today they were bracing themselves for a second defeat when the results of the Euro elections are announced late on Sunday.

Home Secretary David Blunkett admitted that many of his friends had been part of an election backlash against the Iraq war.

Asked why so many supporters had deserted Labour, Mr Blunkett said: "Partly, as Tony Blair acknowledged a few days ago, because of Iraq. We're very clear about that ' it's damaged us.'

Mr Blunkett said he was mortified by the results of the 'super Thursday' poll, but he said it was not meltdown. He dismissed claims that it spelt the end for Tony Blair's premiership.

'Some people felt it was the wrong policy on Iraq. It split families, it split the Labour Party, it split friends,' said Mr Blunkett.

'I've got a lot of friends who disagreed profoundly with our action, and did so from the beginning.'

But he said that people had voted knowing they were not going to change the government and destroy the chance of investing in health, education and cutting crime.

'When people vote for Liberal Democrats in Liverpool they don't do so because they believe that Liverpool city council is going to do something about Iraq.'

'The feeling has been that Iraq has gone wrong. As Iraq comes right, and we believe it will, so people's perception of whether we were right or wrong ' even if they disagreed with us about the original action ' will change.'

Blame

Mr Blunkett refused to blame the voters ' he said they had to look at themselves. He criticised those politicians who said it was just a matter of better communication.

'That's self-evident, but it doesn't take us much further. We've got to ask ourselves questions about how we're seen, how we're heard, and how we speak to people,' added the Home Secretary.

The Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell admitted: 'There was clearly a very strong protest vote and we have to take account of what people are telling us. Iraq was certainly a factor but it was only one factor,' said the Minister.

'The story is the failure of Tories to position themselves to win the General Election and the failure of Michael Howard's leadership to provide any kind of alternative political vision,' said Ms Jowell.

But it was Labour's worst showing in living memory, only winning an estimated 26 per cent of the vote. The Tories' scored 38 per cent of votes and Liberal Democrats 30 per cent.

The general turnout was 40 per cent, up from less than 30 per cent, in the areas which had all postal voting, including the north west. The vote was also up in other areas by seven per cent.

With general complaints about vote rigging and chaos, the government have promised an inquiry into the handling of postal voting.

The Conservative chairman, Liam Fox, described the 'super Thursday' elections as a disaster for Labour.

'This is the first time the governing party has ever come third in the elections like this,' said Mr Fox.

But Liberal Democrats, claiming success because of their opposition to the Iraq war and to the council tax, pointed out that Conservatives had not made gains in the big cities.

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