Tony Blair intends to run for a third term, a close ally said yesterday. However, opponents said a row over the British Prime Minister?s case for war in Iraq had ended his government?s ?honeymoon? with the public. ?He will stand at the next election on the basis that he will stand for a whole term,? Cabinet minister Lord Falconer, an old friend of Blair?s, told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

But the opposition Conservative leader, Ian Duncan Smith, told Sky television Britons no longer trusted Blair. ?We?ve witnessed the longest political honeymoon in political history in modern times. I believe that has come to an end now. The public is ready to look at other alternatives.?

Blair, 50, has suffered a bruising year and looked haggard during a tour of the Far East last week. An opinion poll on Friday showed public trust in him had plunged as months after war in Iraq finished. No banned weapons have been found ? the reason Blair gave for going into battle. His government has been rocked by the apparent suicide of a government scientist who was dragged into the media spotlight in a row between Blair?s office and the BBC over a report the government exaggerated intelligence to hype the case for war. Blair?s communications chief and most valued adviser, Alastair Campbell, is rumoured to be considering quitting but his boss will not, Falconer said.

Duncan Smith said his Conservative party, which governed for the bulk of the 20th century but was thrashed at the last two elections by Blair?s Labour party, could now beat Blair using the ?untrustworthy? label. ?The problem is that New Labour?s culture is about spin and deceit,? he said. ?They are now suffering as a result because nobody believes them any more.?

A judicial inquiry into Kelly?s death will ensure that the saga remains front page news throughout the summer. Blair and Campbell, scarred by the treatment of previous Labour leaders by the press, put media strategy at the heart of their operation in opposition and government.

Mike Peacock