Blair gears up for election

The Cabinet will brain-storm at Chequers

With three Westminster by-elections next week and a general election widely expected next spring, Prime Minister Tony Blair has called his cabinet together for a brain-storming summit.

The meeting at the prime minister's country residence of Chequers saw ministers turn their minds to the upcoming Queen's speech, setting out New Labour's legislative agenda for the coming year.

Tony Blair: Thanks for voting for change

Earlier this week Mr Blair sought to focus on floating voters who backed him in 1997, saying "thank you" to people who voted for New Labour.

The message was spelled out on poster billboards across the country and in a mailshot to thousands of voters.

The poster campaign shows people who voted Labour last time thanking themselves for helping to deliver what the party considers its greatest successes.

'Voting for change'

In the mailshot Mr Blair said: "I am writing to thank you for making sure Britain is moving in the right direction - as a result of people voting for change in 1997.

"We've taken some tough decisions over the last three years - and now they are paying off.

"There is, of course, a great deal more to do. But there's been real progress, too, in clearing up the problems left by the Tories."

Friday's cabinet follows the government's weekly Thursday discussion. Up for grabs next week are three Westminster seats and one in the Scottish Parliament.

The by-elections were caused by the deaths of Labour's Audrey Wise, Scottish first secretary Donald Dewar and the retirement of the former Commons speaker, Betty Boothroyd.

When the votes are counted up after polling next week, the results should shed light on how the electorate feel New Labour has done since taking office for the first time in a generation in 1997.