Blair 'ready to give in to Lords'

THE GOVERNMENT today appeared to be on the point of surrender in its extraordinary battle with the Lords.

Tony Blair was said to be preparing to ditch his Bill for a new voting system for next year's Euro elections.

With the current session of Parliament due to end tomorrow there are fears that the measure could be lost altogether if the deadlock continues. Both Houses were preparing to sit into the night and may do so again tomorrow - even extending the session into Friday if necessary. MPs will today reverse a historic fifth rejection of the plans for a top-up party list of candidates and send the measure back to the Lords, daring them to defy the Commons again. If they do so - despite suggestions that the Tories might benefit by up to 30 seats - arrangements for the elections will be in jeopardy and force hard choices on the Government which may have to run June's contest under the existing first-past-the-post system.

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