Angry voters give Blair election 'kicking' over Iraq

BRITISH voters angry over Iraq punished Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday, relegating his Labour Party to an unprecedented third place in local elections.

"Iraq was a cloud, or indeed a shadow, over these elections," Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said after the main opposition Conservatives triumphed along with the Liberal Democrats in results from Thursday's vote.

"I am not saying we haven't had a kicking. It's not a great day for Labour," he said.