Blair 'confident' of MPs' backing

Mr Blair has been urged to enter into a dialogue with backbench MPs

Tony Blair says he is "very confident" Labour MPs will back his public service reforms, despite warnings of further rebellions by backbench critics.

The prime minister faces the threat of revolts over health, education and welfare changes following last week's rebellion on anti-terror plans.

Ex-minister Frank Dobson predicted up to 100 Labour MPs would join a revolt.

But Mr Blair, who admitted facing a "rough ride" said: "I've no doubt that we will persuade those people."

Mr Blair and senior members of his Cabinet are said to be on a "charm offensive" to meet and win over Labour backbenchers.

'Rough ride'

Mr Blair, speaking in Downing Street, said he believed the "vast majority" of Labour MPs backed the measures.

"I've no doubt at all that we will persuade those people - there is a minority of them in the party at the moment who don't agree with some of those proposals," he said.

I've no doubt at all that we will persuade those people ... this is a very different issue to the national security issue of last week. Tony Blair

"This is a very different issue to the national security issue of last week. It is something that we will engage with ... in the normal way. But I'm actually very confident about it.

"As for the rest of the reform programme, we will see it through."

Civil war?

He said reforms and investment had brought "real improvements", adding: "But we have got to do better.

"The people, the country want to see that money work to produce real transformation in the system."

I can see the next four years being civil war George Mudie, Labour MP Jowell calls for MPs' backing

Last week plans to allow police to detain terror suspects for up to 90 days without charge were defeated by 31 votes, with 49 Labour MPs rebelling against the government.

The Commons instead backed a compromise proposal to extend the detention time limit from the current 14 days to 28 days.

Former deputy chief whip George Mudie, MP for Leeds East, said the number of people threatening to rebel on education reforms "scared" him.

Mr Mudie, who voted against the government, urged ministers to respond to rebels' concerns.

He told BBC Radio 4's World This Weekend programme: "Unless we all calm down, take a deep breath and reconsider how we are all acting, I can see the next four years being civil war and Tory government after four years, and whoever is prime minister is going to have a party that is probably unmanageable."

Loyalty appeal

Angela Eagle, vice chair of the backbench Parliamentary Labour Party committee, urged Mr Blair to consult MPs more.

"There are dangers ahead only if the lessons are not learned," she told BBC Radio 4's World at One.

"It looks from today, certain in the discussions about policy on health and education and forthcoming bills that lessons have been learned and I for one welcome that."

Ex-Home Office Minister John Denham told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: "What won't work is an approach which just says 'We have decided what we are going to do and we are just going to spend a lot more time explaining it to you'."

Charles Kennedy said Mr Blair was a "wounded animal"

Mr Dobson told ITV1's Jonathan Dimbleby programme the 49-strong ranks of Labour rebels last week could be doubled in size in votes on education.

Serial rebel Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Blair would be in "very serious trouble" and could be forced out of office if he went down to another defeat in the Commons.

However, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell argued backbenchers have a duty to back the government's reforms.

The prime minister's official spokesman said he had "no information" about reports that school reforms were being put back to late February or March to allow time to muster support.

Conservative leader Michael Howard has raised the prospect Mr Blair may have to rely on Tory support to get flagship policies through Parliament.

But Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy described Mr Blair as a "wounded animal" and said his peers would be seeking to overturn his plans for ID cards in the House of Lords on Tuesday.