Blair denies Iraq dented popularity

Tony Blair has denied that his unpopularity has been caused by the Iraq war, blaming his loss of public support on people tiring of him after 10 years in power.

His comments surprised Labour MPs and political opponents, who accused him of "self-delusion" and being "in denial" about his legacy as he prepares to stand down in 12 days' time.

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In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, Mr Blair was asked why the public was disenchanted with him even though the economy is sound. He replied: "I've won three elections and what happens when you're in power for a long period of time, people get tired of the same face, the same voice. It's just the way it is. I know people say this is all down to Iraq and so on, but that's not true. From the moment you start in these jobs, you're taking decisions people don't like. If you survive for 10 years, you're doing well."

Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: "The Prime Minister should get out more. He should go for a drink in his local pub and read the blogs of British soldiers in Iraq."

Peter Kilfoyle, a former Labour defence minister, said: "This is self-delusion. He is trying to convince himself. The idea that it is some trick of time has taken him from the heights of massive popularity to where he is now is nonsense."

Bryan Gould, the former Labour politician who ran for the party leadership in 1992, told journalists: "I can't think of another figure in British public life who would have taken Britain to war over Iraq. I don't know anybody who would have had that moral certainty, that absolute belief that he could sell anything to the British people."

In his interview, Mr Blair denied the intervention in Iraq had failed. "I'm sure that we haven't lost it," he said. "We have to go on and win it, but it's a different kind of conflict today. We've got to be prepared for the long haul now in these conflicts, because our enemies are going to fight us."

There was little attempt to deny Iraq's impact at a question-and-answer session yesterday for Labour's deputy leadership candidates staged by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and Save the Children. Hilary Benn, the International Development Secretary, said: "It has been hugely divisive. I accept that there are a lot of people who are very, very angry about what has been done." Harriet Harman, the Justice minister, said: "A great number of people left the Labour Party because of our decision on Iraq, not to mention the public trust that has been eroded."