PM hears soldier's father attack
I had to try to beat Blair for my dead son, says candidate
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SEDGEFIELD, England -- Prime Minister Tony Blair was forced to stand and listen in the background as a father whose son was killed in Iraq criticized his going to war.
Reg Keys stood as an independent candidate against Blair in the Prime Minister's Sedgefield constituency and both men made speeches at the count.
"If this war had been justified by international law I would have grieved and not campaigned," Keys said after polling more than 4,000 votes to Blair's 24,000.
"If weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq -- again I would have grieved, not campaigned.
"Tonight there are lessons to be learned.
"I hope in my heart that one day the prime minister may be able to say sorry.
"That one day he will say sorry to the families of the bereaved. And one day the prime minister may be able to visit wounded soldiers in hospital."
In his victory address after the Sedgefield result was announced, Blair acknowledged that the Iraq war was divisive and urging Britons to "look to the future."
Sharing the stage not only with Keys but with a female political candidate wearing a hat emblazoned with the letters "B-L-I-A-R," the prime minister looked worn as he asked Britons to unite after the bitter campaign.
Blair was never in real danger of losing the seat representing Sedgefield district, in northeastern England, which he has served since 1983. He won with 24,421 votes. Conservative candidate Al Lockwood won 5,972 votes while Reg Keys, whose son Tom died in Iraq, had 4,252.
"I know Iraq has been a divisive issue in this country, but I hope now that we can unite again and look to the future there and here," Blair said, standing next to his wife, Cherie.
Blair had to win his seat to keep his job as prime minister.
Blair acknowledged voters appeared to have scaled back Labour's hold on the House of Commons.
"If -- and I say if -- the predictions are right, it also looks as if the Labour Party is heading for the first time in its history for a historic third term," Blair said.
"It's not yet clear obviously what the majority is, it seems as if it's clear ... that the British people wanted the return of a Labour government but with a reduced majority, and we have to respond to that sensibly and wisely."
Keys said he had hoped to beat Blair, but that even in defeat, "Now I can go to my son's grave with my head held high and say, 'At least I tried."'
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
