McCartney: No comfort zone

Labour is heading for an electoral meltdown which could deprive the prime minister of a workable majority, it has been claimed.

As Labour chairman Ian McCartney uses an article in the Parliamentary Monitor magazine to warn against complacency, some MPs have conceded they are heading for defeat.

They that a combination of disillusionment and apathy could see both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats romping home in scores of Labour seats.

So strong is the concern that Labour voters have turned away from the party, that its chairman has warned there is no "comfort zone" in next year's general election.

"Any sign of complacency in this campaign plays straight into Tory hands," he writes in the Parliamentary Monitor.

McCartney, who was on the verge of being removed as party chairman last week, concedes that "the last year has been challenging for everyone in the Labour Party".

"This general election will be the biggest challenge any generation of Labour Party members has faced," he adds.

"Already we are the longest serving Labour government and it has not been easy to get this far. Being in government is tough."

Real threat

The scale of the threat to Labour is underlined in an email sent by Broxtowe MP Dr Nick Palmer who warned his supporters that his 5,873 majority is likely to be wiped out.

"The results [based on local canvas returns] do show a solid and in some cases quite militant and aggressive Tory vote and a hesitant former Labour vote," said the MP.

Meanwhile it is understood that the Liberal Democrats are changing strategy in order to focus their efforts on onetime Labour strongholds.

The party believes it can build on recent by-election successes and hopes to capitalise on the Iraq factor in inner city areas such as Newcastle.

Interviewed on Sunday Shirley Williams, the Lib Dem leader in the Lords, predicted gains in areas such as Newcastle.