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| Blair 'to hand over power in May' | Blair 'to hand over power in May' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair will announce later he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months, Downing Street has confirmed. | Tony Blair will announce later he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months, Downing Street has confirmed. |
| He will make a statement on his future between 1400 BST and 1500 BST. | He will make a statement on his future between 1400 BST and 1500 BST. |
| He is not expected to give a precise departure date but Commons leader Jack Straw has indicated the prime minister plans to hand over power in May. | He is not expected to give a precise departure date but Commons leader Jack Straw has indicated the prime minister plans to hand over power in May. |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown said he has told Mr Blair it "is for him to make the decision" when he goes. | Chancellor Gordon Brown said he has told Mr Blair it "is for him to make the decision" when he goes. |
| "I will support him in the decision he makes," Mr Brown told reporters on a visit to an athletics track in Glasgow. | |
| But he added: "This cannot and should not be about private arrangements but what is in best interests of our party and most of all the best interests of our country and I will support him in doing exactly that." | But he added: "This cannot and should not be about private arrangements but what is in best interests of our party and most of all the best interests of our country and I will support him in doing exactly that." |
| Labour MP Tony Wright, chairman of the influential public administration select committee, said he hoped Mr Brown's statement was "the beginning of an act of great statesmanship that will come to the help of the party and indeed of the country." | Labour MP Tony Wright, chairman of the influential public administration select committee, said he hoped Mr Brown's statement was "the beginning of an act of great statesmanship that will come to the help of the party and indeed of the country." |
| 'Comfortable' | 'Comfortable' |
| But left wing backbencher Jeremy Corbyn said it was clear there was a private deal between Mr Blair and Mr Brown which he said was "not acceptable". | But left wing backbencher Jeremy Corbyn said it was clear there was a private deal between Mr Blair and Mr Brown which he said was "not acceptable". |
| There has to be some certainty about who the leader is before the summer break Jack Straw href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5324358.stm" class="">In full: Brown statement Analysis: 48 bloody hours Voters' panel verdict | |
| "What we need is a date from the prime minister," he added. | "What we need is a date from the prime minister," he added. |
| It follows 48 hours of bitter feuding and a string of resignations over Mr Blair's refusal to name an exit date. | It follows 48 hours of bitter feuding and a string of resignations over Mr Blair's refusal to name an exit date. |
| Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "The prime minister is very well aware of what the public must be thinking and will reflect that." | Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "The prime minister is very well aware of what the public must be thinking and will reflect that." |
| He said Mr Blair would not be "giving a running commentary" on dates but was "very comfortable" with comments by Environment Secretary David Miliband that a new leader would be in place within a year. | He said Mr Blair would not be "giving a running commentary" on dates but was "very comfortable" with comments by Environment Secretary David Miliband that a new leader would be in place within a year. |
| No precise date | No precise date |
| The prime minister is visiting schools in North and East London with Education Secretary Alan Johnson, during which he is expected to be making his announcement. | The prime minister is visiting schools in North and East London with Education Secretary Alan Johnson, during which he is expected to be making his announcement. |
| Downing Street has rejected suggestions a deal had been struck to hand over power on 4 May, three days after Mr Blair notches up 10 years in power and the day after local elections. | Downing Street has rejected suggestions a deal had been struck to hand over power on 4 May, three days after Mr Blair notches up 10 years in power and the day after local elections. |
| But Mr Straw said earlier voters would expect Mr Blair to stay "to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament", which would be May - thought to be a signal of reassurance to supporters of Chancellor Gordon Brown calling for an earlier exit than 12 months. | But Mr Straw said earlier voters would expect Mr Blair to stay "to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament", which would be May - thought to be a signal of reassurance to supporters of Chancellor Gordon Brown calling for an earlier exit than 12 months. |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair is thought likely to put a precise date on his departure "some time in the New Year". | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair is thought likely to put a precise date on his departure "some time in the New Year". |
| According to this timetable, Mr Blair would then resign as Labour leader in early May, with a new prime minister in place by early June, following a party leadership election. | According to this timetable, Mr Blair would then resign as Labour leader in early May, with a new prime minister in place by early June, following a party leadership election. |
| But our correspondent stressed this was a provisional timetable and could change. | But our correspondent stressed this was a provisional timetable and could change. |
| Mr Blair has been under pressure to quit earlier than May in order to get a new leader in place before elections in England, Scotland and Wales, which are expected to be disastrous for Labour. | Mr Blair has been under pressure to quit earlier than May in order to get a new leader in place before elections in England, Scotland and Wales, which are expected to be disastrous for Labour. |
| 'Acrimonious meeting' | 'Acrimonious meeting' |
| Mr Brown - the man most likely to succeed Mr Blair - is also thought to be unhappy at the prospect of taking over at the end of a Parliamentary session. | Mr Brown - the man most likely to succeed Mr Blair - is also thought to be unhappy at the prospect of taking over at the end of a Parliamentary session. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Just resign Tony and call an election Edward Dowty, Kings Lynn, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Just resign Tony and call an election Edward Dowty, Kings Lynn, UK Send us your comments |
| The two men were reported to have to have had an "acrimonious meeting" over the issue on Wednesday morning. | The two men were reported to have to have had an "acrimonious meeting" over the issue on Wednesday morning. |
| But with Mr Brown carrying out engagements in Scotland on Thursday, Cabinet ministers moved to calm speculation about Mr Blair's future. | But with Mr Brown carrying out engagements in Scotland on Thursday, Cabinet ministers moved to calm speculation about Mr Blair's future. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Straw said he believed the prime minister had provided "sufficient certainty for the party to settle down, to draw back from this abyss" at the end of an "unsatisfactory" few days. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Straw said he believed the prime minister had provided "sufficient certainty for the party to settle down, to draw back from this abyss" at the end of an "unsatisfactory" few days. |
| Mr Blair had "made it clear - or it has been made clear on his behalf - this forthcoming conference, in three weeks' time, will be his last annual conference", he said. | Mr Blair had "made it clear - or it has been made clear on his behalf - this forthcoming conference, in three weeks' time, will be his last annual conference", he said. |
| "There has to be another leader in place by next year's annual conference." | "There has to be another leader in place by next year's annual conference." |