Blair: "I quit..."

[Gilps]

or at least I will do within a year

 

Tony Blair has confirmed he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months.

Mr Blair said the Labour conference in two weeks' time would be his last - but he did not name a precise departure date saying it should be left to him.

 

He also apologised for Labour feuding ove his exit date, saying 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.

 

But Mr Blair's supporters will be hoping the statement will end the civil war over his exit plans.

 

"He didn't sound to me like a man running out of steam, he seemed like a man at the peak of his powers," said Ealing MP Stephen Pound.

 

But other Labour MPs are already said the statement would not be enough to quell dissent.

 

Manchester MP Graham Stringer said if Mr Blair "thought it was going to take the politics out of the next nine months that simply is not going to happen".

 

Brownite Doug Henderson 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."

 

In his brief statement, Mr Blair told reporters: "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 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.

 

"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."

 

Speaking earlier, Chancellor Gordon Brown said he would support Mr Blair in whatever decision he took 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.

 

'Comfortable'

 

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.

 

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.

 

It was followed by a day of open warfare between supporters of the chancellor and Mr Blair over when the prime minister should quit.

 

 

Blair Statement

 

Brown Statement

[vish]

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[Stevie H]

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