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| Blair faces wave of resignations | Blair faces wave of resignations |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has faced a wave of resignations by junior members of his government over his refusal to name a date for resignation as Labour leader. | Tony Blair has faced a wave of resignations by junior members of his government over his refusal to name a date for resignation as Labour leader. |
| He branded ex-junior minister Tom Watson, the most senior person to quit, "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing a letter urging him to go. | He branded ex-junior minister Tom Watson, the most senior person to quit, "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing a letter urging him to go. |
| The resignations came as Mr Blair faces growing pressure to name a departure date or even quit now. | The resignations came as Mr Blair faces growing pressure to name a departure date or even quit now. |
| Gordon Brown backers say assurances he will go by May are "not good enough". | Gordon Brown backers say assurances he will go by May are "not good enough". |
| 'Great sadness' | 'Great sadness' |
| Mr Watson and the six parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) - who are unpaid ministerial aides at the bottom rung of the government ladder - were among 17 normally loyal Labour MPs who signed a letter calling on Mr Blair to quit. | Mr Watson and the six parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) - who are unpaid ministerial aides at the bottom rung of the government ladder - were among 17 normally loyal Labour MPs who signed a letter calling on Mr Blair to quit. |
| The six were: Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole and David Wright. | The six were: Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole and David Wright. |
| To sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong Tony Blair In full: Resignation letters Analysis: Can Blair hang on? | To sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong Tony Blair In full: Resignation letters Analysis: Can Blair hang on? |
| In a joint statement, four of the group said Mr Blair had "not ended the uncertainty over when you intend to leave office, which is damaging the government and the party". | In a joint statement, four of the group said Mr Blair had "not ended the uncertainty over when you intend to leave office, which is damaging the government and the party". |
| Mr Watson, who has already been replaced as a junior defence minister by junior transport minister Derek Twigg, said he no longer believed that it was in the best interests of the party or the country for Mr Blair to continue. | |
| But Mr Blair hit back saying that calls for his resignation were putting Labour's electoral prospects at risk. | But Mr Blair hit back saying that calls for his resignation were putting Labour's electoral prospects at risk. |
| He said he had been "intending to dismiss" Mr Watson anyway "but wanted to extend to him the courtesy of speaking to him first". | He said he had been "intending to dismiss" Mr Watson anyway "but wanted to extend to him the courtesy of speaking to him first". |
| The prime minister added: "Had he come to me privately and expressed his view about the leadership, that would have been one thing. | The prime minister added: "Had he come to me privately and expressed his view about the leadership, that would have been one thing. |
| "But to sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong. | "But to sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong. |
| "It would therefore have been impossible for him to remain in government." | "It would therefore have been impossible for him to remain in government." |
| 'Change wanted' | 'Change wanted' |
| The Sun newspaper said earlier that Mr Blair will go on 31 May, but Number 10 has insisted it had not leaked the date. | The Sun newspaper said earlier that Mr Blair will go on 31 May, but Number 10 has insisted it had not leaked the date. |
| There should be a new leader in place by the end of March Doug Henderson, Brown supporter Profile: Tom Watson | There should be a new leader in place by the end of March Doug Henderson, Brown supporter Profile: Tom Watson |
| Meanwhile, leading Brownites are calling for the prime minister to make a public declaration about when he will go, so that he cannot go back on it. | Meanwhile, leading Brownites are calling for the prime minister to make a public declaration about when he will go, so that he cannot go back on it. |
| One of the chancellor's closest allies, who asked not to be named, told the BBC News website: "From Gordon's point of view there has to be a public statement. | One of the chancellor's closest allies, who asked not to be named, told the BBC News website: "From Gordon's point of view there has to be a public statement. |
| "Blair has to let it be known when he will go and there has to be a public declaration." | "Blair has to let it be known when he will go and there has to be a public declaration." |
| 'Worst time' | 'Worst time' |
| Ex-minister Doug Henderson, also a Brown supporter, said he could not see what Mr Blair would achieve by staying on. | Ex-minister Doug Henderson, also a Brown supporter, said he could not see what Mr Blair would achieve by staying on. |
| If this is a coup, are Brown's allies ready to follow through? BBC political editor Nick Robinson href="http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2006/09/decision_time.html" class="">Read Nick's thoughts in full | |
| "There should be a new leader in place by the end of March," said Mr Henderson, in time for the local elections and mid-term polls in Scotland and Wales. | "There should be a new leader in place by the end of March," said Mr Henderson, in time for the local elections and mid-term polls in Scotland and Wales. |
| He said the timetable suggested on Tuesday by allies of Mr Blair - that he would go in about 12 months time - seemed "the worst time to appoint a new leader". | He said the timetable suggested on Tuesday by allies of Mr Blair - that he would go in about 12 months time - seemed "the worst time to appoint a new leader". |
| "People in the country want a change," he told the BBC News website. | "People in the country want a change," he told the BBC News website. |
| Ex-Cabinet minister David Blunkett said it was now "pretty clear that there is an understanding about a date next year - whether it's 31 May when he announces it is open to speculation". | Ex-Cabinet minister David Blunkett said it was now "pretty clear that there is an understanding about a date next year - whether it's 31 May when he announces it is open to speculation". |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said the government was "in meltdown", while Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell added that Mr Blair "should either resign or state a date". | Conservative leader David Cameron said the government was "in meltdown", while Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell added that Mr Blair "should either resign or state a date". |