After Heavy Defeat, Major Vows Cabinet Changes

LONDON -- Battered Prime Minister John Major has pledged to reshuffle his cabinet and to win Britain's next general election after his Conservative Party suffered its worst defeat in European elections. A jubilant Labour Party said its victory in European Parliamentary polls represented an earthquake in the British political landscape while the Conservatives said a poor turnout had caused a mid-term blip from which they could recover. The Conservatives, deeply unpopular after policy U-turns and stinging tax rises, blamed lingering effects of recession and barely concealed divisions over Europe for their trouncing but Major's own position seemed no longer to be in immediate danger. Questioned about his leadership, a defiant Major told reporters: "I am still here. We have a mechanism if people wish to challenge in the autumn, that's a matter for them. "I don't expect one. I will be here waiting for it if there is one. I will beat it and I will be here through and through the general election."The election is scheduled for 1997. Labour's Margaret Beckett said: The results showed that the mantle of trust has now passed firmly to Labour. The people of Britain are now turning to Labour." Conservatives seats in the Strasbourg parliament fell to 18 from 32. Labour, hungry for power after 15 years in opposition, took 62 of 84 mainland British seats. The European humiliation followed a key by-election loss last week and a thrashing in May's local council elections. "Tory (Conservative) days in Downing Street could be numbered," Tuesday's Independent said in an editorial. "Regardless of how the party governs, there may have been a sea change in British politics."The Times gave Major credit for averting crisis in the Euro-elections. "Mr. Major must take credit for pulling the Conservatives back from the brink," it said in an editorial. Former prime minister Sir Edward Heath called on Major to sack "troublemakers" in the cabinet, an apparent reference to Euro-sceptic ministers Major once called "bastards."Moderate Conservative member of parliament William Powell said Major should resign as leader this week. Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd tried to raise sagging Conservative spirits by claiming the party was now passing "the trough of our fortunes.""If and when it is prudent to cut taxes in the future, our instinct will be to cut them," Major said. On a reshuffle, he said: "I can rule out this week. I can rule out next week." While there would be a reshuffle, he said, it "isn't imminent."