Britain's Blair wins crunch vote despite revolt

LONDON, Mar 16 (Reuters) Britain's Tony Blair won a vote on his government's flagship school reforms, despite a rebellion by his Labour Party that dealt a blow to the prime minister's already waning authority.

As many as 51 Labour parliamentarians voted against the education bill, meaning Blair had to rely on the opposition Conservatives to ensure the legislation continues through parliament, according to media reports.

That would be an embarrassing outcome for a leader with a large parliamentary majority and it will prompt questions about his ability to control an increasingly restive party.

The education reforms come at a pivotal moment for Blair.

He faces local elections in May that will be Blair's first major electoral test since a national poll last year in which he won a third term but saw his majority slashed by more than half, partly because of anger over the Iraq war.

Blair has staked his authority on the plans to give greater autonomy to schools -- calling the reforms a defining moment for his government in his third and final term in office.

Parliamentarians backed the education bill by 458 votes to 115, a majority of 343 for Labour. The bill now continues its passage through parliament.

The bill aims to raise education standards by giving more autonomy to schools to run their own affairs, backed by businesses and faith groups. The Conservatives support the idea of giving schools more control over their own management.

But critics fear the changes would open the door to academic selection and damage the chances of poorer students -- anathema to a Labour party committed to equality.

Fearing defeat, Blair made concessions which cut the number of rebels from about 100.

In a second vote on the bill's parliamentary timetable, Blair survived what would have been a damaging loss.

He won the vote by 300 to 290, heading off a bid by the Conservatives to slow its passage through parliament and thereby inflict a symbolic defeat on the once invincible Blair.

REUTERS SK RAI0527