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Blair confirms plan to stand down | Blair confirms plan to stand down |
(10 minutes later) | |
Tony Blair has confirmed he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months. | Tony Blair has confirmed he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months. |
Speaking on a visit to a London school, Mr Blair said the Labour conference in three weeks' time would be his last. | |
He did not set a precise date but would do so at a future date - when it was in the interests of the country. | |
The announcement follows 48 hours of bitter feuding and a string of resignations over Mr Blair's refusal to name an exit date. | |
Mr Blair said the past week "has not been our finest hour, to be frank". | |
"I think what is important now is that we understand that it's the interests of the country that come first and we move on. | |
"I would have preferred to do this in my own way but it has been pretty obvious from what a lot of my Cabinet colleagues have said earlier in the week. | |
"The next party conference in a couple of weeks will be my last party conference as party leader. | |
"The next TUC conference next week will be my last TUC - probably to the relief of both of us. | |
"But I am not going to set a precise date now. I don't think that's right. I will do that at a future date and I'll do it in the interests of the country and depending on the circumstances of the time." | |
'Civil war' | |
There are hopes among Mr Blair's supporters that the prime minister's words will end damaging speculation over his future. | There are hopes among Mr Blair's supporters that the prime minister's words will end damaging speculation over his future. |
There has to be some certainty about who the leader is before the summer break Jack Straw What happens to policy? In full: Brown statement Voters' panel verdict | There has to be some certainty about who the leader is before the summer break Jack Straw What happens to policy? In full: Brown statement Voters' panel verdict |
But other Labour MPs are saying it will not be enough to end civil war in the party. | But other Labour MPs are saying it will not be enough to end civil war in the party. |
Speaking before the prime minister's announcement, left wing backbencher Jeremy Corbyn said: "We need a date from the prime minister." | Speaking before the prime minister's announcement, left wing backbencher Jeremy Corbyn said: "We need a date from the prime minister." |
Chancellor Gordon Brown has said he will support Mr Blair in whatever decision he takes about his future. | Chancellor Gordon Brown has said he will support Mr Blair in whatever decision he takes about his future. |
"I am determined that in the months and years to come we continue to do our duty by the people of Britain - and it is my determination and his to do that - that will influence everything that happens in the time to come," said Mr Brown, speaking earlier. | "I am determined that in the months and years to come we continue to do our duty by the people of Britain - and it is my determination and his to do that - that will influence everything that happens in the time to come," said Mr Brown, speaking earlier. |
'Comfortable' | 'Comfortable' |
Mr Blair's official spokesman said earlier that Mr Blair would not be "giving a running commentary" on exit dates. | Mr Blair's official spokesman said earlier that Mr Blair would not be "giving a running commentary" on exit dates. |
Commons leader Jack Straw moved to calm speculation by saying voters would expect Mr Blair to stay "to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament", which would be May. | |
But 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. | |
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 - was 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 - was 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. |
It was followed by a day of open warfare between supporters of the chancellor and Mr Blair over when the prime minister should quit. | It was followed by a day of open warfare between supporters of the chancellor and Mr Blair over when the prime minister should quit. |
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 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 told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 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". |
"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. |
"Our procedures take some time, because we're a democratic party," he said. | "Our procedures take some time, because we're a democratic party," he said. |
"There has to be some certainty about who the leader is before the summer break next summer, not afterwards, and people can then work backwards from there. | "There has to be some certainty about who the leader is before the summer break next summer, not afterwards, and people can then work backwards from there. |
"I think that is satisfactory. I think it's what the party accepts." | "I think that is satisfactory. I think it's what the party accepts." |