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Blair tells Cabinet he will quit Blair tells Cabinet he will quit
(20 minutes later)
Tony Blair is travelling to his Sedgefield constituency where he will make public his plans to stand down as Labour leader and prime minister.Tony Blair is travelling to his Sedgefield constituency where he will make public his plans to stand down as Labour leader and prime minister.
Mr Blair has already briefed the Cabinet on when he will quit, with likely successor Gordon Brown paying a warm tribute to his leadership. Mr Blair has already told the Cabinet he plans to quit, with likely successor Gordon Brown paying a warm tribute to his leadership.
Mr Brown praised the prime minister's "unique achievements" in leading "the party, Britain and the world".Mr Brown praised the prime minister's "unique achievements" in leading "the party, Britain and the world".
Mr Blair will stay on for seven weeks until a new Labour leader is chosen.Mr Blair will stay on for seven weeks until a new Labour leader is chosen.
Mr Blair is understood to have told the Cabinet he did not want ministers paying tribute to him, adding "that can be left for another day".Mr Blair is understood to have told the Cabinet he did not want ministers paying tribute to him, adding "that can be left for another day".
But as the brief meeting was breaking up, Mr Brown said he "did not think it would be right to let Cabinet finish without offering thanks to the prime minister".But as the brief meeting was breaking up, Mr Brown said he "did not think it would be right to let Cabinet finish without offering thanks to the prime minister".
He praised Mr Blair's "unique achievement over 10 years and the unique leadership he had given to the party, Britain and the world".He praised Mr Blair's "unique achievement over 10 years and the unique leadership he had given to the party, Britain and the world".
'Laughter''Laughter'
His comments were greeted by "much thumping of tables" by Mr Blair's colleagues, his official spokesman told reporters. His comments were greeted by "much thumping of tables" by Mr Blair's colleagues, the prime minister's official spokesman told reporters.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it had been a "cordial, comradely" meeting with "quite a lot of laughter" and "leg-pulling".Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it had been a "cordial, comradely" meeting with "quite a lot of laughter" and "leg-pulling".
He's going of his own choice. He's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country, is good for the government Peter Mandelson Q&A: What happens now? He's going of his own choice. He's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country, is good for the government Peter Mandelson Q&A: What happens now? class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6641689.stm">Blair quits: Reaction class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6506365.stm">The Tony Blair story
Mr Hain, who is a candidate for Labour's deputy leadership, said Mr Brown would now "take up Tony Blair's mantle in the next period of our government".Mr Hain, who is a candidate for Labour's deputy leadership, said Mr Brown would now "take up Tony Blair's mantle in the next period of our government".
Mr Blair is expected to make a speech on his retirement plans at about 1200 BST.Mr Blair is expected to make a speech on his retirement plans at about 1200 BST.
His election agent and close friend John Burton said he expected Mr Blair to continue as Sedgefield's MP until the next general election, unless he was offered a major international job.His election agent and close friend John Burton said he expected Mr Blair to continue as Sedgefield's MP until the next general election, unless he was offered a major international job.
Mr Blair's official spokesman insists he will remain "focused" on being prime minister until Labour has chosen his successor - a process expected to last seven weeks.Mr Blair's official spokesman insists he will remain "focused" on being prime minister until Labour has chosen his successor - a process expected to last seven weeks.
He said Mr Blair still has lots of work to do on domestic issues and had a number of international commitments in the run-up to this summer's G8 and EU summits.He said Mr Blair still has lots of work to do on domestic issues and had a number of international commitments in the run-up to this summer's G8 and EU summits.
But with a new prime minister expected to be in place by the beginning of July, attention at Westminster has already shifted to his succession.But with a new prime minister expected to be in place by the beginning of July, attention at Westminster has already shifted to his succession.
Mr Brown is unlikely to face a Cabinet-level challenge for the leadership as all of the likely contenders have ruled themselves out.Mr Brown is unlikely to face a Cabinet-level challenge for the leadership as all of the likely contenders have ruled themselves out.
But he could still face a challenge from one of two left wing backbenchers - John McDonnell and Michael Meacher. The pair are meeting later to see if one of them can muster enough support to get on to the ballot paper.But he could still face a challenge from one of two left wing backbenchers - John McDonnell and Michael Meacher. The pair are meeting later to see if one of them can muster enough support to get on to the ballot paper.
'Paralysis''Paralysis'
Candidates need the signatures of 45 Labour MPs to enter a contest.Candidates need the signatures of 45 Labour MPs to enter a contest.
Six deputy leadership hopefuls will also be battling for nominations to enter the race to replace John Prescott, who is due to stand down with Mr Blair.Six deputy leadership hopefuls will also be battling for nominations to enter the race to replace John Prescott, who is due to stand down with Mr Blair.
Conservative leader David Cameron has said the country faces seven weeks of "paralysis" until Labour chooses a new leader, accusing Mr Blair of running a government of the "living dead".Conservative leader David Cameron has said the country faces seven weeks of "paralysis" until Labour chooses a new leader, accusing Mr Blair of running a government of the "living dead".
We have grown used to having a leader who is always centre stage BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full We have grown used to having a leader who is always centre stage BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
The Liberal Democrats have, meanwhile, tabled a Parliamentary motion urging the Queen to dissolve parliament and call a general election.The Liberal Democrats have, meanwhile, tabled a Parliamentary motion urging the Queen to dissolve parliament and call a general election.
But European Union Trade Commissioner and close Blair ally, Peter Mandelson, denied that Mr Blair's last weeks in office would be as a lame duck leader.But European Union Trade Commissioner and close Blair ally, Peter Mandelson, denied that Mr Blair's last weeks in office would be as a lame duck leader.
"'He's going of his own choice. He's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country, is good for the government.""'He's going of his own choice. He's doing it at a time which he thinks is good for the country, is good for the government."