Grim reading for Labour

The British Labour party is experiencing turbulent times. Tony Blair is stepping down, forcing an untried leader to face the resurgent Tories at the next election and an opinion poll has recorded their lowest rating for nearly 20 years.

Any party after a decade in power is bound to suffer the consequences of voter fatigue. But this is different. There is widespread disillusionment with Blair over Iraq and a sense that the party squandered the opportunity for changing Britain that their massive parliamentary majorities would have allowed.

Labour are not without hope, the Tories seem vague on a number of policies but the election of a new leader will open deep wounds, the last thing any party needs before an election. Blair has pledged to go within the year but for Labour's sake he should go now and get the division of a leadership contest out of the way sooner rather than later.