By contrast, the left-right division affects all areas of policy, and here Mr Blair is far from isolated.

ECONOMIST: Politics

The issue was a vote on the glorification of terrorism under the Blair government - a division the rebels lost by just one vote.

BBC: Voting: it's not as easy as it looks

Mr Blair has been persuaded by Lord Jenkins that the division of the centre-left between Labour and Liberals has been its besetting weakness in this century.

ECONOMIST: Terms of engagement