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Blair to announce departure date Blair tells Cabinet he will quit
(about 2 hours later)
Tony Blair is preparing to make his long awaited announcement setting out his plans to step down as Labour leader and UK 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 will tell Cabinet colleagues first, before outlining his plans in a speech in his Sedgefield constituency. Mr Blair has already briefed the Cabinet on his retirement plans, with his likely successor Gordon Brown reportedly paying tribute to him.
His spokesman said Mr Blair would be "focused" on being prime minister until Labour has chosen his successor - a process expected to last seven weeks. Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it had been "cordial, comradely" meeting with "quite a lot of laughter".
Chancellor Gordon Brown is the clear favourite to succeed Mr Blair. "He didn't want any great ceremony," Mr Hain told BBC News.
Downing Street has confirmed the sequence - though not the precise content - of the announcements ending weeks of speculation over exactly when Mr Blair would go public with his retirement plans. Mr Blair is expected to make a speech on his retirement plans at 1200 BST.
His decision to make his first public statement on the subject in Sedgefield on Thursday follows a longstanding pledge to voters there that they would be the first to know about his future plans. Mr Blair's spokesman has said he would be "focused" on being prime minister until Labour has chosen his successor - a process expected to last seven weeks.
'Paralysis' The announcements end weeks of speculation over exactly when Mr Blair would go public with his retirement plans.
Mr Blair was mocked in the Commons on Wednesday by Conservative leader David Cameron for presiding over a "government of the living dead". Succession
Come the general election, it's policy that counts Tony Blair class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6633989.stm">Q&A: What happens now? Mr Blair's 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.
He accused the government of being in "paralysis," with key Blairite ministers either quitting or waiting to be sacked by Mr Brown. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6633989.stm">Q&A: What happens now?
Mr Blair countered that he would be concentrating on "policies for the economy and health, and education and law and order" during the seven weeks he is expected to stay in Downing Street while his Labour successor is chosen. Downing Street insists Mr Blair still has lots of work to do on domestic issues before he quits.
With a resignation announcement imminent, the Liberal Democrats have tabled a Parliamentary motion urging the Queen to dissolve parliament and call a general election. He also has international commitments in the run-up to this summer's G8 and EU summits.
Domestic issues 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.
The prime minister's official spokesman stressed Mr Blair still had lots of work to do on domestic issues before he quits. Mr Brown is unlikely to face a Cabinet-level challenge for the leadership as all of the likely contenders have ruled themselves out.
There were two policy review papers on the role of the state and on families and two white papers on planning and energy security yet to be published, he said. 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 decide if one of them can muster enough support to get on to the ballot paper.
And there would also be international matters to deal with in the run-up to this summer's G8 and EU summits. 'Lame duck'
The former Cabinet minister and current European Union Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson, said he would support the next Labour leader and denied that Mr Blair's last weeks in office would be as a lame duck leader. Candidates need the signatures of 45 Labour MPs to enter a contest.
"'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."
Frantic activity
Mr Blair's announcement will trigger three days of frantic activity at Westminster, starting on Monday, as Labour leadership and deputy leadership hopefuls seek nominations from fellow MPs.
Mr Brown has already been nominated by more than half of the Parliamentary party and will almost certainly not face a Cabinet-level challenge for the leadership, after all of the likely runners refused to stand against him.
Left wing backbenchers John McDonnell and Michael Meacher are battling to gain the 44 nominations needed to get on to the ballot paper and ensure there is a contest.
Whoever has the least support will withdraw, giving the other a clear run.
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.
The Liberal Democrats have, meanwhile, tabled a Parliamentary motion urging the Queen to dissolve parliament and call a general election.
European Union Trade Commissioner and close Blair ally, Peter Mandelson, said he would support the next Labour leader and 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."