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Blair heads for Commons farewell Blair resigns as prime minister
(about 7 hours later)
Tony Blair is in the Commons preparing for his final question time session after 10 years as prime minister. Tony Blair has stood down as UK prime minister after 10 years in the job.
After the question time ends at 1230 BST he will return briefly to Downing Street before making the short journey to give his resignation to the Queen. He handed in his resignation to the Queen during a private meeting at Buckingham Palace.
Gordon Brown, Mr Blair's chancellor since 1997, will then be asked by the Queen to form a government. Earlier, Mr Blair received a standing ovation from MPs in the Commons in unprecedented scenes at the end of his final prime minister's questions.
Mr Blair is also thought likely to quit as an MP - if he is confirmed in his new job as a Middle East peace envoy. Conservative, Lib Dem and DUP leaders all paid tribute to Mr Blair, who is expected to stand down as an MP to take up a job as a Middle East envoy.
The so-called "quartet" - of the UN, America, Russia and the EU - are thought likely to make an announcement on the position later. I wish everyone, friend or foe, well and that is that, the end Tony Blair class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6244674.stm">Sketch: Commons farewell class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6245054.stm">At-a-glance: PM's questions class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6238194.stm">Why is Blair going?
EXPECTED TIMETABLE 1200 - 1230: Final PMQs1300: Blair says farewell to staff at No 101305: Blair departs for Palace, where he will officially tender resignation in private audience with Queen1330: Brown departs Treasury with wife Sarah1340: Blair leaves Palace1340: Brown arrives at Palace where Queen will ask him to form a government1430: Brown leaves Palace1445: Brown enters No 10 for first time as prime minister Times are a guide and subject to change class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6244586.stm">Day at-a-glance class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6242788.stm">Blair 'to be Mid East envoy' He will stand down later as an MP before taking up a new job as a Middle East peace envoy for the "quartet" of the UN, EU, America and Russia.
The world's media have been gathered in Downing Street from the early hours to witness the historic scenes, with a removal van pulling up outside Number 10 being the focus of attention until Mr Blair set off to Parliament shortly after 1100 BST. As they left Downing Street the Blair family - including their four children - posed for the gathered world media.
After taking over as PM, Mr Brown is expected to begin his Cabinet reshuffle by naming the next chancellor and home secretary. Mr Blair said nothing to the press as they got in the car, but wife Cherie smiled and waved at the press and said she would not "miss" them.
A fuller reshuffle of government jobs is expected on Thursday. Earlier MPs from all sides called a halt to the usual House of Commons hostilities to pay tribute to him during Mr Blair's final half hour question time session.
Iraq 'divisive' Mr Blair admitted he had "never pretended to be a great House of Commons man" but he paid tribute to the "noble" work of MPs and - in his final words to Parliament - said: "I wish everyone, friend or foe, well and that is that, the end."
Mr Brown has singled out education and affordable housing as two of his key concerns on taking over as prime minister, but says the NHS is his "immediate priority". MPs gave departing Mr Blair a standing ovation
We will remember Tony Blair with affection, pride and admiration Hazel Blears, Labour chairman class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6238194.stm">Why is Blair going? class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6506365.stm">The Tony Blair story Mr Blair, who was being watched from the public gallery by his family, also paid tribute to troops killed in Iraq.
He has also admitted that Iraq is "a divisive issue for our party and our country" and pledged to "learn lessons that need to be learned". He hailed Britain's armed forces as the "bravest and the best" and said he was "truly sorry about the dangers they face today in Iraq and Afghanistan".
The parents of soldiers who have died in Iraq will protest in Downing Street as Mr Blair leaves No 10. He added: "I know some people think they face those dangers in vain. I don't and I never will.
Members of Military Families Against the War say they are determined the outgoing PM "will not be allowed to forget the suffering he has caused". "I believe they are fighting for the security of this country and of the wider world against people who would destroy our way of life."
Conservative leader David Cameron hailed Mr Blair's "remarkable achievement" in being prime minister for 10 years, praising peace in Northern Ireland and Mr Blair's work in the developing world which he said will "endure".
'Generosity'
He wished Mr Blair "every success for whatever he does in the future".
HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED 1200 - 1230: Final PMQs1300: Blair says farewell to staff at No 101312: Blair arrives at Palace, where he tenders resignation in private audience with Queen1330: Brown departs Treasury with wife Sarah1340: Blair leaves Palace1351: Brown arrives at Palace where Queen asks him to form a government1448: Brown leaves Palace1455: Brown enters No 10 for first time as prime minister Day at-a-glance Nick Robinson's view
Mr Blair thanked Mr Cameron for his tributes and said although he could not wish the Tory leader well politically, "personally I wish both him and his family very well indeed".
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said that, despite their political disagreements, Mr Blair had been "unfailingly courteous" and extended his party's best wishes to the outgoing prime minister and his family.
Mr Blair returned the compliment, saying Sir Menzies had a "generosity of spirit and courtesy".
Mr Blair also exchanged tributes with Northern Ireland first minister Ian Paisley.
Middle East
To laughter from all sides, Mr Blair told MPs he had received his own P45 on Tuesday.
HAVE YOUR SAY What do I want Brown to do? Call an election and see if he gets a proper mandate to be PM Annie, Aberdeenshire Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY What do I want Brown to do? Call an election and see if he gets a proper mandate to be PM Annie, Aberdeenshire Send us your comments
Once he leaves office, Mr Blair is expected to travel to his Sedgefield constituency, in the north east of England, on Wednesday evening to announce he is standing down as an MP after 24 years. Asked by Lib Dem MP Richard Younger-Ross to advise his successor Gordon Brown on the relationship between faith and the state, Mr Blair sparked more laughter by saying, after a brief pause: "I think I'm really not bothered about that one."
John Prescott will step down from frontline politics after 10 years as deputy prime minister. It is not certain whether Mr Brown will appoint a replacement. Looking ahead to his new role, Mr Blair told MPs he believed a solution could be found in the Middle East but it would take a "huge intensity of focus and work".
He told MPs: "As I learned in respect of Northern Ireland, it is important to be able to bring people together, including people who have been very hostile towards each other."
Mr Blair is travelling to his Sedgefield constituency, in the north east of England, where he is expected to announce he is standing down as an MP with immediate effect after 24 years.
John Prescott is also stepping down from frontline politics after 10 years as deputy prime minister. It is not certain whether Mr Brown will appoint a replacement.
Mr Brown is thought likely to carry out the bulk of his Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, but it has already emerged that one definite change will see Patricia Hewitt stepping down as health secretary.