Blair delivers Meacher put-down

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Tony Blair has delivered a put-down to Labour leadership contender Michael Meacher, saying he will "probably" not end up running the country.

His comments break with his previous position of not commenting on his likely successor.

He praised Chancellor Gordon Brown, the favourite to replace him, saying it was important to keep "our economy strong".

During prime minister's questions, Mr Blair said: "I think this will probably happen but not under him (Mr Meacher)."

'Huge gains'

Mr Meacher, a left-winger, entered the Labour leadership race last week, insisting it was not a "foregone conclusion" that Mr Brown would become prime minister.

In the Commons, he asked Mr Blair for an inquiry into private equity firms which he said were making "huge personal gains" at the expense of job losses.

But the prime minister replied: "The single most important thing for us as a government is to keep our economy strong."

Mr Meacher was sacked as a minister in 2003 and needs to get 44 Labour MPs to back him to get on the leadership ballot.

Another left-winger, backbencher John McDonnell, is the only other Labour MP so far to declare his intention to run.