UK 'Texans' wary of Blair's U.S. ties

Even among British line dancers, who have an affinity for things American, there are doubts about Blair's ties with Bush

CRAWLEY, England (CNN) -- It isn't Texas, but the line dancers of Crawley in southern England like to think it is -- at least on Friday nights.

But make no mistake -- beneath the Stetson hats are very British concerns about Prime Minister Tony Blair's political closeness to Washington on issues from Afghanistan and missile defence to Iraq.

As Blair prepares to meet U.S. President George W. Bush in Texas, public opinion in Britain is increasingly divided over U.S. policy and the war on terror.

While the British strongly supported their prime minister's "shoulder-to-shoulder" stance over Afghanistan last year, polls say attitudes are now decidedly cooler.

"I'm not sure the Americans are right," says Stephen, one of the Crawley line dancers. "But I feel that Britain as a whole should not be jumping in and backing America for everything they want to do. I think Blair wants to be an American, personally."

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And that's a bad thing, for many here. Take steel, for instance, and the newly imposed U.S. tariffs on imports. British industry may suffer, and Bush is the man Crawley's line dancers blame.

"He needs our help in a lot of ways. He needs our help in the war. And we need his help in industry. So why should he close the door on Britain?" says one woman in a cowgirl outfit.

"It's not a case of you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. It's about fairness. And I think Mr. Bush is being just a little bit blinkered on that subject."

Even here, among people with such an obvious affinity for things American, there are still doubts and concerns about the closeness of Tony Blair's relationship with Washington.

And these people are not alone. Latest opinion polls suggest a growing number of Britons are uneasy at the U.S. war on terror -- and the way in which their prime minister is giving it such unflinching support.

Blair (right) is meeting again with Bush at the U.S. president's Texas ranch

In fact, according to the MORI polling agency, approval of the way Blair has handled the response to the September 11 attacks dropped from 71 to 52 percent since November.

Analysts say now may not be the time for unconditional British support for a potentially unpopular war against Iraq.

"It will give him pause for thought, because with four people in 10 saying Britain is too close to America, and there's a majority saying they are opposed to British troops being involved in any escalation of the war against terrorism, Tony Blair will know he is taking a risk in alienating British public opinion," says MORI's Robert Worcester.

The coming days may decide whether Blair believes that's a risk he will continue to take.