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Blair 'to hand over power in May' Blair 'to hand over power in May'
(40 minutes later)
Tony Blair is expected to confirm later he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months. Tony Blair is expected to announce later he will be stepping down before next year's Labour conference.
Commons leader Jack Straw said voters expected Mr Blair to stay "to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament", which would be May.Commons leader Jack Straw said voters expected Mr Blair to stay "to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament", which would be May.
It follows 48 hours of feuding which saw eight government members quit over Mr Blair's continued leadership.It follows 48 hours of feuding which saw eight government members quit over Mr Blair's continued leadership.
Downing Street denied reports Mr Blair would step down earlier than May to give a new leader a chance to bed in.Downing Street denied reports Mr Blair would step down earlier than May to give a new leader a chance to bed in.
Mr Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown were said to have to have had an "acrimonious meeting" over Labour's future on Wednesday morning. They also denied media reports 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.
It was followed by a day of open warfare between supporters of the chancellor and Mr Blair over when the prime minister should quit. Mr Blair, who has a series of public engagements later, is not expected to confirm a precise departure date.
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 Jack Straw In full: Resignation letters Analysis: 48 bloody hours In full: 2001 intake letterThere 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 Jack Straw In full: Resignation letters Analysis: 48 bloody hours In full: 2001 intake letter
Instead he will confirm he will stand down at some point before next year's Labour conference, sources have told the BBC.
Provisional timetable
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair would then 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.
But our correspondent stressed this was a provisional timetable and could change.
Mr Blair is 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'
Chancellor Gordon 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.
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.
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 told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'Certainty'
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.
"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."
Junior defence minister Tom Watson and seven government aides - or Parliamentary Private Secretaries - resigned on Wednesday after urging Mr Blair to stand down. Junior defence minister Tom Watson and seven government aides - or Parliamentary Private Secretaries - quit on Wednesday after urging Mr Blair to stand down.
Mr Blair branded Mr Watson, the most senior person to quit, "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing the letter. Mr Blair branded Mr Watson, the most senior person to leave, "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing the letter.
An ally of the chancellor denied the eight resignations were part of a plot by the Brown camp. Allies of the chancellor denied the eight resignations were part of a plot by the Brown camp.