UK poll: Blair heading for victory

Blair: Heading for a second term in power?

LONDON, England (CNN) -- UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is on course to win an historic second landslide election victory, an exit poll suggests.

The MORI poll for ITN, based on a random sampling of several thousand voters across Britain, gives Blair's Labour Party a 175-seat majority in the House of Commons, the UK's main legislative body.

A BBC/NOP survey predicts a Labour majority of at least 160.

The first result was declared in the Labour-stronghold of Sunderland South constituency at 10.43 pm local time. Labour's Chris Mullin, a government minister, easily held the seat with 64 percent of the vote.

There was a swing from Labour to the Conservatives of 2.7 percent, but turnout was just 48.3 percent.

If the polls prove accurate, it would mean a second consecutive landslide election triumph for Labour, which has never before remained in power for two full terms.

The MORI poll suggests Labour would have 417 seats, the main opposition Conservatives would have 154, and the Liberal Democrats would have 58, a gain of 11.

The suggested result in terms of seats is based on the exit poll and may not take account of regional variations.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said he hoped the polls were correct, adding: "We've done a good job so far. But there's still a lot more to do and if we've convinced the electorate to give us a chance we would be delighted to get on with it."

But Conservative Party chairman Michael Ancram said he was sceptical of polls and was hopeful for the result.

If the exit polls are correct, they show an endorsement of Labour's campaign, which focused on improving public services, notably health and education.

They would reflect a huge snub for the Conservative Party's chief campaign issues, which were to campaign vigorously against the UK entering the single European currency and urging a tough policy on asylum seekers.

The Liberal Democrats' campaign focused on increasing taxes to pay for more spending on health and education.

First results from the 659 constituencies that elect members of Parliament (MPs) across the UK are expected within hours of the polls closing at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT).

A heavy defeat would place the future of William Hague, leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, in doubt.

But the polls suggest an increase in support for the UK's third party, the Liberal Democrats, led by Charles Kennedy.

Labour came to power in the UK in 1997, winning a 179-seat majority with 43 percent of the vote, with the Conservatives taking 31 percent.

Blair, 48, has been Labour leader since 1994, taking up the position following the death of John Smith. He immediately began overhauling the centre-left party and re-branded it as "New" Labour.

Hague became leader of the Conservatives after the 1997 election defeat, succeeding ex-Prime Minister John Major.

Governments in the UK serve terms of up to five years. The post-war Labour government of Clement Attlee won a mandate for a second term in 1950, but with a majority of just five seats, Attlee was forced to call another election in 1951.

That poll was won by wartime leader Winston Churchill for the Conservatives.

Hague: Predictions show him heading for defeat

Harold Wilson won back power for Labour in 1964, but his slim majority of four led to another poll in 1966, which he won before the Conservatives returned to power in 1970.

Labour then won elections in 1974 and 1976 before Margaret Thatcher became prime minister in 1979, beginning a period of Conservative rule that lasted until 1997. This year's election, which is being held alongside local council elections in England and Wales, comes after a four-week campaign in which Labour consistently held a substantial lead in opinion polls.

The date of the poll was delayed by the UK's foot-and-mouth outbreak, with Blair abandoning his preferred date of May 3.

An election victory for Labour would come despite recent crises for the government, including its handling of foot-and-mouth, which added to alienation with Blair's leadership in some rural areas.

The prime minister has also been criticised over his style of government, with some observers saying he relies too much on "spin doctors," while some of Blair's ministers -- notably former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson -- have been embroiled in controversy.

By far the biggest crisis faced by the Blair government came as protesters angry about fuel prices crippled petrol supplies by blockading oil terminals.

The protests, which spread to other parts of Europe, caused jitters in the Labour leadership, with Blair criticised over his handling of the crisis.