London, May 6 Tony Blair was today urged to step down as Prime Minister as Labour?s overall majority of 169 in 2001 was slashed to 50 in yesterday?s general election. The turnout, which was 71 per cent in 1997 when Blair first came to power, dropped to a dismal 49.6 per cent, as voters, disenchanted with the continuing war in Iraq, stayed away in droves.

Blair?s first defiant act today was to appoint ex-home secretary David Blunkett as his new deputy prime minister. Although Blair is committed to remaining at Number 10 for a full third term, supporters of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, want him to take over as prime minister sooner rather than later.

Amit Roy