Support for UK's Labour slips back to 19-yr low

LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) Support for British Prime Minister Tony Blair's ruling Labour party has slipped back to a 19-year low after weeks of bad news on the domestic front, a poll published today showed.

The ICM survey for the Guardian newspaper put Labour's support at 32 percent, 5 percentage points behind the main opposition Conservative Party and two points down from the last poll in May.

The Conservatives were down one point on 37 percent and the country's third party, the Liberal Democrats, were up one point at 21 percent, according to ICM.

Support for Labour first slipped to 32 percent in April -- the lowest point since 1987, when the party suffered a heavy defeat to the Conservatives under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher -- but had recovered slightly in May.

Since then Blair has faced a barrage of negative headlines, mostly linked to the handling of the immigration and prison services, which are overseen by the Home Office (interior ministry).

The prime minister sacked Home Secretary Charles Clarke following poor local election results on May 4 and replaced him with former defence minister John Reid.

Blair has said he will not stand for re-election and is widely expected to be succeeded by finance minister Gordon Brown.

However, he has insisted he will serve a full term and has refused to set a date for his departure.

ICM polled 1,005 adults by telephone between last Friday and Sunday.

REUTERS PDS BST0442