Blair to seek 'job with purpose'

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Tony Blair has said he wants a job with "real purpose" when he steps down as prime minister next year.

Mr Blair has refused to be drawn on his intentions once he resigns as Labour leader within the next nine months.

But, in an interview on the Downing Street website, he said after his time as prime minister he wanted something that was more than just a job.

"Whatever I do afterwards, it has to have real purpose to it," he told BBC Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans.

Mr Blair may not continue as a backbench MP - his election agent John Burton has said he thinks he will step down as an MP at the next general election.

'Clean break'

The prime minister is believed to have told friends he wants a "clean break" from politics and allies have suggested he may wish to become an international statesman and campaigner.

Mr Blair may follow former US President Bill Clinton onto the US lecture circuit, and could expect a multi-million pound deal for his memoirs.

This is a position that once you have occupied it, you have done something that has what I call a real life purpose to it Tony Blair

But, in the interview on the Downing Street website, he suggested that, after nearly 10 years as prime minister, he would not want to do something just for the money.

"I think the single thing for me that is most important is that whatever I do afterwards it has a real purpose to it, that it is not just about doing a job," he said.

"This is a position that, once you have occupied it, you have done something that has what I call a real life purpose to it.

"Now you may do it badly, you may do it well, some people like you, some people hate you, all the rest of it - but you have got a real motivating life purpose.

"And certainly in anything I wanted to do afterwards I want to have... it would be a different purpose, but similar in its motivation."

In September, Mr Blair said he would step down within the next 12 months, but he has not given a precise date for his departure.