Randolph This is a verbatim quote from the related link:
London – Prime Minister Tony Blair sidestepped electoral catastrophe on Friday as voters passed a final verdict on his decade as British leader – but his governing Labour Party was locked in a battle for control of Scotland with a nationalist party vowing to push for independence.
Early results suggested Blair – who has said he will formally announce next week he will resign as prime minister, likely by July – had averted a predicted routing by voters in England and Wales, who had been thought eager to use municipal polls to bruise the outgoing premier.
Huh? I wish people would write plainly. The first paragraph is a 45-word sentence. The second paragraph is a 47 word-sentence!
Don't even get me started on what it all means. According to my news writing lecturer back in 1996, the opening paragraph is supposed to draw the reader in. Instead it makes no sense whatsoever.