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| Version 22 | Version 23 |
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| I will quit within a year - Blair | I will quit within a year - Blair |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair has confirmed that he will step down as prime minister within the next 12 months. | Tony Blair has confirmed that he will step down as prime minister within the next 12 months. |
| Mr Blair said the Labour conference in two weeks' time would be his last as Labour leader - but he did not name a precise date for his departure. | Mr Blair said the Labour conference in two weeks' time would be his last as Labour leader - but he did not name a precise date for his departure. |
| He also apologised for Labour's conduct in recent days, admitting it "has not been our finest hour, to be frank". | He also apologised for Labour's conduct in recent days, admitting it "has not been our finest hour, to be frank". |
| Allies have suggested Mr Blair will announce a timetable early in the New Year and hand over power in May. | Allies have suggested Mr Blair will announce a timetable early in the New Year and hand over power in May. |
| Mr Blair and his supporters will be hoping his statement will end the civil war that has broken out in the past week among Labour MPs over his departure. | Mr Blair and his supporters will be hoping his statement will end the civil war that has broken out in the past week among Labour MPs over his departure. |
| International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said he wished "people would understand what is required" and get on with the business of governing. | |
| But some Labour MPs are already saying Mr Blair's statement will not be enough to quell dissent. | But some Labour MPs are already saying Mr Blair's statement will not be enough to quell dissent. |
| When I met the prime minister yesterday, I said to him - as I've said on many occasions and I repeat today - it is for him to make the decision Gordon Brown Analysis: Blair's final gamble In full: Blair statement In full: Brown statement | When I met the prime minister yesterday, I said to him - as I've said on many occasions and I repeat today - it is for him to make the decision Gordon Brown Analysis: Blair's final gamble In full: Blair statement In full: Brown statement |
| Manchester Blackley MP Graham Stringer said he did not think Mr Blair's statement "took us any further forward". | Manchester Blackley MP Graham Stringer said he did not think Mr Blair's statement "took us any further forward". |
| And he called on Mr Blair to "fire the starting pistol on a leadership election" at Labour's conference later this month. | And he called on Mr Blair to "fire the starting pistol on a leadership election" at Labour's conference later this month. |
| Newcastle North MP Doug Henderson, a close ally of Gordon Brown, said: "It doesn't seem to me that the public knows any more about the PM's retirement plans. | Newcastle North MP Doug Henderson, a close ally of Gordon Brown, said: "It doesn't seem to me that the public knows any more about the PM's retirement plans. |
| "People keep saying to me that the Labour party must have a clear direction forward with clear priorities and a new leader before the May 2007 elections." | "People keep saying to me that the Labour party must have a clear direction forward with clear priorities and a new leader before the May 2007 elections." |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said there was still a lot of "poison" emanating from Labour MPs - and allies of Mr Blair and Mr Brown were continuing to fight behind the scenes. | BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said there was still a lot of "poison" emanating from Labour MPs - and allies of Mr Blair and Mr Brown were continuing to fight behind the scenes. |
| 'No precise date' | 'No precise date' |
| In his brief statement, made during a visit to a London school, Mr Blair said: "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. | In his brief statement, made during a visit to a London school, Mr Blair said: "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 think that Labour has had its moment of madness this week and I hope it will now move on Peter Mandelson Political reaction Special report: Blair succession | I think that Labour has had its moment of madness this week and I hope it will now move on Peter Mandelson Political reaction Special report: Blair succession |
| "I would have preferred to do this in my own way but it has been pretty obvious from what many of my Cabinet colleagues have said earlier in the week. | "I would have preferred to do this in my own way but it has been pretty obvious from what many 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. | "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." | "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." |
| He also had a message for warring Labour MPs, saying: "It's the public that comes first and it's the country that matters, and we can't treat the public as irrelevant bystanders in a subject as important as who is their prime minister." | He also had a message for warring Labour MPs, saying: "It's the public that comes first and it's the country that matters, and we can't treat the public as irrelevant bystanders in a subject as important as who is their prime minister." |
| Speaking earlier, Chancellor Gordon Brown said it was for Mr Blair to decide when he quit. | Speaking earlier, Chancellor Gordon Brown said it was for Mr Blair to decide when he quit. |
| "When I met the prime minister yesterday, I said to him - as I've said on many occasions and I repeat today - it is for him to make the decision," he told reporters during a visit to a Glasgow athletics track. | "When I met the prime minister yesterday, I said to him - as I've said on many occasions and I repeat today - it is for him to make the decision," he told reporters during a visit to a Glasgow athletics track. |
| Mandelson reaction | Mandelson reaction |
| Giving his reaction, EU trade commissioner and key Blair ally Peter Mandelson said: "I think that Labour has had its moment of madness this week and I hope it will now move on and that the plotting and the shenanigans will be put behind them once and for all. | Giving his reaction, EU trade commissioner and key Blair ally Peter Mandelson said: "I think that Labour has had its moment of madness this week and I hope it will now move on and that the plotting and the shenanigans will be put behind them once and for all. |
| KEY LABOUR DATES 25-26 Sept: Mr Blair and Mr Brown make speeches at the Labour Party conference in Manchester15 Nov: State opening of Parliament including the Queen's speech outlining the government's agenda2 May 2007: Tenth anniversary of Mr Blair's election as prime minister3 May 2007: Elections for Scottish and Welsh assemblies, and most local authorities in England | KEY LABOUR DATES 25-26 Sept: Mr Blair and Mr Brown make speeches at the Labour Party conference in Manchester15 Nov: State opening of Parliament including the Queen's speech outlining the government's agenda2 May 2007: Tenth anniversary of Mr Blair's election as prime minister3 May 2007: Elections for Scottish and Welsh assemblies, and most local authorities in England |
| "They've got to concentrate on the needs of the country, not themselves." | "They've got to concentrate on the needs of the country, not themselves." |
| He said he always thought Mr Blair would step down after 10 years in office, as "it was as much as someone could do that job for". | He said he always thought Mr Blair would step down after 10 years in office, as "it was as much as someone could do that job for". |
| Speaking earlier, Commons leader Jack Straw said he would expect Mr Blair to stay "to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament", which would be May. | Speaking earlier, Commons leader Jack Straw said he would expect Mr Blair to stay "to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament", which would be May. |
| But Downing Street 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 the local elections. | But Downing Street 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 the local elections. |
| 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 |
| Mr Blair has been under pressure to quit earlier than May in order to get a new leader in place before the 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 the elections in England, Scotland and Wales - which are expected to be disastrous for Labour. |
| 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. |
| 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 - and a string of government resignations - over when the prime minister should quit. | It was followed by a day of open warfare between supporters of the chancellor and Mr Blair - and a string of government resignations - over when the prime minister should quit. |