TONY Blair is today celebrating his 52nd birthday and an unprecedented third term for Labour after victory in the general election.

But the voters sent the Prime Minister a clear message by returning him to power with a dramatically reduced majority - down from 160 to around 70.

One of the seats that Labour held onto was Dorset South where Jim Knight increased his majority to 1,812 from 153.

Across the country there was significant swing away from Labour at the end of a bitter and highly personalised campaign dominated by Iraq.

Electors deserted Labour in droves with many opting for the Liberal Democrats and the government secured the lowest share of the popular vote in modern times, around 36 per cent.

The Conservatives looked set to pick up a number of extra seats and did much better than many had expected - especially in London and counties like Kent and Essex.

"The party is on the way back", was the message from Conservative chiefs.

The Liberal Democrats were on course to secure their highest number of Parliamentary seats.

In Dorset there were few surprises. The Poole and Bournemouth West seats were held for the Conservatives by Robert Syms and Sir John Butterfill.

Tobias Ellwood held Bournemouth East for the Conservatives as did Chris Chope in Christchurch.

In Mid Dorset, Liberal Democrat Annette Brooke was comfortably re-elected.

Julian Lewis retained New Forest East for the Conservatives and New Forest West was won by the incumbent Desmond Swayne.

In West Dorset, Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin who had been targeted by the Liberal Democrats' so-called "decapitation" policy also survived.

Throughout the night there were a host of startling national results: The Conservatives regained Newbury from the Liberal Democrats and Putney, Wimbledon and Ilford North from Labour. Astonishingly, Labour lost Blaenau Gwent, its fifth safest seat, to an independent on a 49 per cent swing while the Liberal Democrats took Manchester Wythenshawe and Cardiff Central from Labour.

Another sensational result came at Bethnal Green and Bow where George Galloway and his anti-war party Respect defeated Labour's Oona King.

A high profile casualty was Labour's Stephen Twigg who was defeated at Enfield Southgate which he won from Michael Portillo in one of the defining moments of the 1997 election.

In a sombre mood, Mr Blair said at his count in Sedgefield: "It's clear the British people wanted the return of a Labour government but with a reduced majority. We have to respond to that sensibly and wisely."

He acknowledged that Iraq had been divisive but hoped the country could now unite. Reg Keys, the father of soldier Thomas Keys killed in Iraq, polled 10 per cent of the vote in Sedgefield.

Gordon Brown, who said Labour would "listen and learn" to serve Britain even better as his party appeared to be heading for a historic third term.

Conservative leader Michael Howard, acknowledging Mr Blair's victory, said: "I believe the time has now come for him to deliver the things that really matter to the people of the country.

"And if he does he will have my support, if he delivers on cleaner hospitals, more police and immigration. The time has now come for action.

"I'm proud of the campaign we have fought. We have sent a message to Mr Blair."

PROJECTED SEATS

Labour: 356

Conservative: 193

Liberal Democrat: 63

Other: 30

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