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Blair 'to hand over power in May' Blair 'to hand over power in May'
(20 minutes later)
Tony Blair will announce later he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months. 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, Downing Street confirmed. He will make a statement on his future between 1400 BST and 1500 BST.
He is "very comfortable" with earlier suggestions he would be gone within a year, his spokesman said. He is not expected to give a precise date but Commons leader Jack Straw has indicated the prime minister plans to stand down in May.
He is not thought likely to give a precise date but Commons leader Jack Straw has indicated the prime minister plans to leave in May. It follows 48 hours of bitter feuding and a string of resignations over Mr Blair's refusal to name an exit date.
Mr Straw said earlier Mr Blair would stay "to the halfway point of a normal four-year parliament", which would be May. Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "The prime minister is very well aware of what the public must be thinking and will reflect that."
Downing Street denied reports Mr Blair would step down earlier than May to give a new leader a chance to bed in. He said Mr Blair would not be giving a running commentary" on dates but was "very comfortable with what [environment secretary] David Miliband set out on Tuesday and will also reflect that".
It also rebuffed 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.
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 Jack Straw href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5320760.stm" class="">In full: Resignation letters href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5322314.stm" class="">Analysis: 48 bloody hours href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5321296.stm" class="">In full: 2001 intake letter
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 href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5320760.stm" class="">In full: Resignation letters href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5322314.stm" class="">Analysis: 48 bloody hours href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5321296.stm" class="">In full: 2001 intake letter 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 to supporters of Chancellor Gordon Brown calling for an earlier exit.
Instead he will confirm he will stand down at some point before next year's Labour conference, sources have told the BBC. The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair is thought likely put a precise date on his departure "some time in the New Year".
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.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.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. 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'
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. 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 commentsHAVE 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.
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.
'Certainty''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.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 - quit 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 leave, "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.
Allies 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.