The dramatic drop in Labour's majority could significantly affect the character of the party's third term, as well as the political longevity of its leader.

Mr Blair was quick to stress he still had a mandate, despite his majority being more than halved from the 161 he enjoyed at the end of the last Parliament. While acknowledging the new government would need to listen to the implicit rebuke from disaffected former Labour voters, Mr Blair claimed the British people had “made it very clear they want to carry on with Labour.''