Blair's Labour now sleazier than predecessor-poll

LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour government is sleazier than the Conservative administration it swept from power nine years ago, an opinion poll today showed.

Its findings increased the pressure on the premier to step down as his beleaguered government has been hit by sex scandals, mismanagement and accusations of trading state awards.

Blair, who promised to be ''whiter than white'' after defeating the Conservatives in a landslide 1997 election triumph, now faces even greater voter disillusionment.

The YouGov poll in Saturday's Daily Telegraph showed 69 per cent of people looked on Labour as ''very sleazy and disreputable'' compared to 63 per cent for the last Conservative government.

The poll showed strong public backing for a police investigation into political party funding which has seen detectives question two of Blair's ministers and his chief party fundraiser and personal Middle east envoy, Lord Levy.

An overwhelming 81 per cent supported the investigation which has severely dented Blair's popularity. He has promised to step down before the next election after steering Labour to three straight poll victories.

UNDER PRESSURE ''Historians 100 years from now will wonder how a government that began so well ended so badly,'' said Anthony King, professor of government at Essex University, commenting on the new poll.

Police are investigating allegations that Labour promised lordships, life-long seats in the upper house of parliament, the House of Lords, in return for secret loans.

Even bookmakers have now slashed the odds on Blair quitting this year from 11-4 to 2-1.

Labour came under pressure after it said it had received 14 million pounds (26 million dollars) in loans from 12 businessmen, some of whom were nominated for seats in the House of Lords. A law introduced in 1925 makes it illegal to sell Lordships.

Labour denies all wrongdoing in the probe. Detectives have so far questioned almost 50 people.

In recent months several ministers have been hit by scandal, including Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who admitted to an affair, and ex-Home Secretary Charles Clarke, sacked after it emerged foreign criminals were freed instead of being deported.

The widening police investigation has sparked fevered media speculation that detectives may want to question Blair next in the ''cash-for-awards'' probe.

When asked about the investigation, Blair told a news conference: ''I am not going to comment on any of these inquiries.'' REUTERS RL RK1251