CAIRO, November 10, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – British Prime Minister Tony Blair's first-ever defeat in parliament over his controversial anti-terror laws has raised speculations over his authority, with many British dailies seeing this as the beginning of his political end.

"Tony Blair is today more seriously wounded than he has ever been," said the Daily Mail on Thursday, November 10.

It stressed that while the "debacle may not mean the end" it is " almost certainly the beginning of the end of Blair's ability to achieve anything."

By a vote of 322-291, the House of Commons rejected Wednesday, November 9, Blair's hard-fought proposal that police be given power to hold terror suspects for 90 days without charge.

Instead, the lawmakers opted for an amendment that would only double the current period of 14 days, subject to weekly approvals from a High Court judge.

British Muslims have hailed Blair's parliamentary defeat as a victory for human rights and civil liberties.

The Daily Mail, the most anti-Blair of the major British newspapers, predicted that a question of trust will dominate the remainder of Blair's time in office.

"Labour MPs are no longer in thrall to their leader," said the paper.

"He has lost their confidence. He never had their affection."

Blair's proposal was defeated with the help of 41 rebels from his Labour.

There were dozens of abstentions in the 646-seat house.

Blair, however, put on a brave face, denying that his defeat would shadow his political future.

"I don't think it's a matter of my authority," he told the BBC television.

Blair, who swept to power in 1997 as the youngest prime minister since 1812, had his Blair's parliamentary majority slashed to 66 in the May elections, about 100 less than he had.

Now fewer than 40 Labour members can defeat him by voting with the combined ranks of the opposition.

Britain's best-selling The Sun said Blair's parliamentary defeat has turned him into a "lame duck".

"It was not just the defeat itself ... but the scale of the mutiny that has turned him into a real lame duck."

The daily added that Blair's opponents "have tasted blood and won't stop snapping at his heels now."

The conservative Daily Telegraph agreed.

"The real news yesterday was that Tony Blair has, finally, lost the power to get his agenda into law.

"The drubbing the prime minister has received from MPs should be chastening."

The defeat also raised speculations over how long Blair would be able to act effectively, or even how long he can stay in office.

"Teflon Tony is dead... (Wednesday's) events have obviously raised questions about how long Mr Blair can stay in office," columnist Peter Riddell wrote in The Times newspaper.

Main opposition Conservative leader Michael Howard also cast doubt over Blair's authority following his defeat in parliament.

"Blair's authority has been diminished almost to vanishing point. This vote shows he is no longer able to carry his own party with him," Howard said.

"He must now consider his position."