Blair confronted by former Labour supporter

Last updated at 16:28 20 April 2005


Tony Blair came face to face today with one of the disillusioned Labour supporters he fears may cost his party the election.

Jessica Haigh, from Leeds, told the Prime Minister her family were all staunch Labour supporters but had "lost faith" in the party since he came to power.

The 20-year-old daughter of a former Labour councillor told Mr Blair she would be voting Liberal Democrat because of her disillusionment over issues ranging from the Iraq war to globalisation and spin.

Mr Blair acknowledged that her complaints were ones he often faces from party members, but warned that a Lib Dem vote risked letting Michael Howard's Conservatives into office by default.

The encounter came during an event in Leeds which was the closest the Blair campaign has come so far to a traditional walkabout, with shoppers asked if they would like to meet a "senior Government minister" for a chat around the coffee table in a shopping centre food court.

Mr Blair faced questions on the shortage of NHS dentists, anti-social behaviour and the environment.

But the strongest criticism came from Miss Haigh when she told him: "In 1997, I was 11 and we were so happy when you got in and now all our family's trust in your party has gone.

"It is heartbreaking when you work so long to get a Labour Government in power and then they turn into a Conservative one."

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