MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Tony Blair wins record 3rd straight term

British Prime Minister Tony Blair won a historic third successive term in power, but early results showed that the Labor Party's majority was cut by more than half.

With this, Blair becomes the first Labor Party leader to win three successive general elections. Blair, who turns 52 today, is only the second U.K. prime minister after Margaret Thatcher to win a third straight term since 1832.

At 4:30 a.m. London time, the Labour Party had claimed 353 seats, versus 159 for the Conservative Party and 59 for the Liberal Democrats.

With more than 80% of the results declared, Blair appeared to be on course for a Commons majority of around 70, down from the 161 that the Labour Party enjoyed at the end of the last parliament.

"The British people wanted to return a Labour government, but with a reduced majority," the BBC quoted Blair as saying.

Blair said that he would focus on "things that matter," according to the BBC, including jobs, law and order, and the National Health Service.

"I know too that Iraq has been a divisive issue in this country," the BBC quoted Blair as saying, "but I hope now that we can unite again and look to the future - there and here."