'Fit at 50' Blair gets a shock

2003-10-20 14:11

London - The medical experts were unanimous: Prime Minister Tony Blair's admission to hospital for an irregular heartbeat was a minor affair. The interruption to his punishing work schedule would be brief and of no long-term significance.

On Monday morning, Downing Street made clear Blair was holding meetings as usual, although he would not make a scheduled address to parliament. By Tuesday, all would be back to normal.

"He's fit, fine, in good spirits and completely recovered," a spokesperson said.

But the political pundits were inclined to take a gloomier view. "Hospital trip may prompt Blair to walk a little quicker towards history's exit door," the left-liberal Guardian opined.

And the conservative Daily Telegraph noted: "Relentless pressure takes toll on keep-fit prime minister," adding that Blair's smile was now forced and the bounce in his step gone.

The newspaper went on to detail the signs of ageing evident since Blair took office in 1997 as the youngest prime minister since 1812. It queried whether he had the will to carry on after becoming the Labour Party's longest serving prime minister in August this year.

Abstemious

At 50, the prime minister is clearly fit, active and more abstemious than most of his predecessors. He does not smoke, barely drinks, plays tennis regularly, swims and runs on a treadmill when he can find the time.

But he is also beset by problems and is struggling to find support. The Labour Party left is outraged over his backing for US President George W Bush in Iraq, and members of parliament have openly called him a liar over his justification for the war.

This anger has spilled over into opposition to his restructuring of public services to increase private sector involvement.

And the respect he has garnered among Conservatives over Iraq is grudging at best. If he stumbles they will be quick to strike in the hope of securing political advantage ahead of elections likely in 2005.

The opinion polls have delivered a damning verdict in recent weeks: Blair has seen his support fall and his trust ratings plummet among the electorate, with his Iraq policy cited as the reason.

The five hours of "cardioversion" treatment Blair underwent on Sunday afternoon, involving the injection of chemicals into the heart or the use of electric shocks to stabilise the heart rhythm, might well be of little significance for a fit 50-year-old.

But the scare could give him pause for thought to consider his family -his youngest son is just three - and his place in history.

The front page headline on Monday's Times summed it up for the prime minister and for most Britons. "How long will Blair carry on?" it asked. - Sapa-DPA

- SAPA