Labor's Hold Slips in Local Council Elections

Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labor Party lost support across Britain in local elections, partial returns showed.

"There is clearly a strong protest vote.... Iraq is certainly a factor," Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said.

With results from 65 of the 166 local councils declared, Labor was down 159 seats; the main opposition Conservative Party had gained 77 seats; and the Liberal Democrats, who opposed the war, gained 68 seats.