LONDON -- No European leader rode higher in the reaction to the Sept. 11 attack in New York than Tony Blair. The British prime minister immediately rallied to the American cause, enunciated the need to fight terrorism in ringing tones and committed troops to fight in Afghanistan. At last he had emerged in the part he had long seen for himself, playing a pivotal world role and acting as a bridge between the United States and Europe.

Five months later, the prime minister finds himself in an unexpectedly awkward position. He still dominates the domestic opinion polls, and enjoys a large parliamentary majority with elections not due for another three years. Britain's economy is working relatively well, and the Conservative opposition is still trying to pull itself together after crushing defeats in the general elections of 1997 and 2001.

So the growing perception that Blair is losing ground both at home and abroad may seem strange. But this is not something conjured up by his opponents. Many of his problems spring from those who are, or were, his friends. That makes them all the more difficult to deal with.