Blair confirms plan to stand down

Tony Blair has confirmed he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months.

Speaking on a visit to a London primary school, Mr Blair said he wanted to end speculation about his departure.

The announcement follow 48 hours of bitter feuding and a string of resignations over Mr Blair’s refusal to name an exit date.

He has not said a precise date but it is expected to be some time in May, allies say.

There are hopes among Mr Blair’s supporters that the prime minister’s words will end damaging speculation over his future.

But other Labour MPs are saying it will not be enough to end civil war in the party.

Speaking before the prime minister’s announcement, left wing backbencher Jeremy Corbyn said: “We need a date from the prime minister.”

Chancellor Gordon Brown has said he will support Mr Blair in whatever decision he takes about his future.

“I am determined that in the months and years to come we continue to do our duty by the people of Britain – and it is my determination and his to do that – that will influence everything that happens in the time to come,” said Mr Brown, speaking earlier.

‘Comfortable’

Mr Blair’s official spokesman said earlier that Mr Blair would not be “giving a running commentary” on exit dates.

Downing Street has rejected suggestions a deal had been struck to hand over power on 4 May, three days after Mr Blair notches up 10 years in power and the day after local elections.

The BBC’s political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair is thought likely to put a precise date on his departure “some time in the New Year”.

According to this timetable, Mr Blair would then resign as Labour leader in early May, with a new prime minister in place by early June, following a party leadership election.

But our correspondent stressed this was a provisional timetable and could change.

Mr Blair has been under pressure to quit earlier than May in order to get a new leader in place before elections in England, Scotland and Wales, which are expected to be disastrous for Labour.

‘Acrimonious meeting’

Mr Brown – the man most likely to succeed Mr Blair – was also thought to be unhappy at the prospect of taking over at the end of a Parliamentary session.

The two men were reported to have to have had an “acrimonious meeting” over the issue on Wednesday morning.

It was followed by a day of open warfare between supporters of the chancellor and Mr Blair over when the prime minister should quit.

Commons leader Jack Straw moved to calm speculation by saying voters would expect Mr Blair to stay “to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament”, which would be May.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Mr Blair had “made it clear – or it has been made clear on his behalf – this forthcoming conference, in three weeks’ time, will be his last annual conference”.

“There has to be another leader in place by next year’s annual conference.

“Our procedures take some time, because we’re a democratic party,” he said.

“There has to be some certainty about who the leader is before the summer break next summer, not afterwards, and people can then work backwards from there.

“I think that is satisfactory. I think it’s what the party accepts.”

Story from BBC NEWS

Published: 2006/09/07 14:00:17 GMT

© BBC MMVI

Personally, I think that, by 1/1/07, if there isn’t a new Prime Minister, the Labour party will be in the middle of a leadership election.

After Blair gave this timetable, his opponents (both in Labour and the Conservatives) will see him as a lame duck leader.

But, we’ll see.

Will