Labour Party chairman John Reid has moved to bolster support for the prime minister following grassroots criticism of his position on Iraq.

Speaking after a week in which Tony Blair came under repeated fire for his war stance, Dr Reid said Blair is showing the leadership required in times of crisis.

Speaking to this website, the party chairman said the Labour leader was having an influence on US thinking.

"He has been in the lead. It was Tony who said to President Bush at the very first meeting that he regarded this as the most important issue internationally," said the Hamilton MP.

Despite the NATO crisis and the French threat to block a second UN resolution, Dr Reid said Blair was attempting to create consensus throughout Europe.

"He is the person who has above all has tried to unite the world community," said the party chairman.

"He and Jack Straw played a central role in resolution 1441 which was unanimously agreed by the United Nations. He has been central in encouraging the United States to go down the UN route.

"And he has been central to encouraging the Europeans to regard the US as a partner in the United Nations and not as a rival in the United Nations.

"We've tried to do that. It is hugely difficult. But I think the prime minister's role in leading, in trying to unite, is pretty widely recognised, even by those who don't agree with him."

Moving to shore-up support in the prime minister, Dr Reid said Blair was making the right moves at a deeply difficult time.

"The prime minister, like any prime minister worth his metal, has to listen to what people are saying, but also, because he's the leader of the country, has to lead," he added.

"And in the subject which is as important as this, I know how much attention he has given to it. How much thought he has given to it. I know how deeply he cares about the threat to the people of this country: the largest threat for this coming generation, the biggest threat."

"Now since it is such an important issue he has not only to listen and think - like any responsible leader would. But he also has to lead. There is one thing which nobody has ever said about Tony Blair and that is that he is frightened to lead. And I think he is doing it on this."