Labour has one of the slimmest mandates for power in the Western world, a study of governments around the world has indicated.

The Independent reports that Tony Blair is second from bottom of the league table of democracies with only 36 per cent of the popular vote, a figure below that of minority governments including Spain and Sweden.

MPs have seized on the figures and said the tiny share of the vote diminished Mr Blair's "legitimacy" and authority to govern.

They said his failure to get a greater share of the vote would reduce his power on the world stage, particularly when he takes over the EU presidency and chairmanship of the G8 group of industrialised nations.