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Blair may not hang on, says Hoon Blair may not hang on, says Hoon
(about 1 hour later)
Europe minister Geoff Hoon has cast doubt on Tony Blair's ability to remain in office until next May.Europe minister Geoff Hoon has cast doubt on Tony Blair's ability to remain in office until next May.
He told the London Evening Standard it could create a dangerous "air gap" for Labour, allowing a Tory recovery in local, Scottish and Welsh elections.He told the London Evening Standard it could create a dangerous "air gap" for Labour, allowing a Tory recovery in local, Scottish and Welsh elections.
Mr Blair has said he will quit as party leader within a year, with allies stressing it is likely to be in May.Mr Blair has said he will quit as party leader within a year, with allies stressing it is likely to be in May.
It comes as backbencher and ex-Downing Street aide Jon Cruddas said he was considering a deputy leadership bid.It comes as backbencher and ex-Downing Street aide Jon Cruddas said he was considering a deputy leadership bid.
Mr Blair is thought likely to step down after local elections and mid-term polls for the Scottish and Welsh Assembly on 3 May - expected to be disastrous for Labour.Mr Blair is thought likely to step down after local elections and mid-term polls for the Scottish and Welsh Assembly on 3 May - expected to be disastrous for Labour.
Mr Hoon questioned whether this was a realistic timetable. 'Popular'
"Having set the outer limits of how long he is staying, that still leaves questions in the context of the elections in May," he told the Evening Standard."Having set the outer limits of how long he is staying, that still leaves questions in the context of the elections in May," he told the Evening Standard.
I am trying to see if I can start a rolling debate about what this job is, and how the party needs to organise itself Jon Cruddas, Labour MP on the deputy leadership
"A lot of people will be asking if it makes sense to him to carry on through those elections.""A lot of people will be asking if it makes sense to him to carry on through those elections."
He raised the prospect of Labour activists jumping ship if Labour does badly.
"It is a concern that if we were to lose badly in the local elections again, two years running, a lot of active Labour members would not be active by the time of the next general election," Mr Hoon told the newspaper.
He added: "The view among activists is that he [Mr Blair] should go out on a high. That should be a factor affecting his decision. He should do it while he's still popular."
The normally loyal minister's intervention is likely to reignite debate about Mr Blair's departure date, ahead of Labour's conference in Manchester in a week's time.
'Lost touch'
Meanwhile, former Blairite minister John Denham attacked the government as over-centralised, narrowly-focused and lacking in policies.
"Our government has become too centralised, so much is funnelled through the narrow channel at Downing Street that we have become slower in responding to new policies. Some of our new policies haven't been well designed," Mr Denham told GMTV, in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday.
He said the government lacked a "clear message" for voters and had lost touch with the public.
Mr Denham, who resigned as a Home Office minister over the Iraq war, added: "I think we have explored the limit of how much social change you can achieve by driving everything from the centre."
Cruddas bidCruddas bid
Mr Hoon, who was speaking en route to the Middle East, added: "The view among activists is that he should go out on a high. That should be a factor affecting his decision. He should do it while he's still popular." In a separate development, backbencher Jon Cruddas has said he is considering adding his name to the list of Labour MPs interested in the party's deputy leadership.
The normally loyal minister's intervention is likely to reignite debate about Mr Blair's departure date ahead of Labour's conference in Manchester in a week's time.
Mr Cruddas, meanwhile, has said he is considering adding his name to the list of Labour MPs interested in the deputy party leadership.
He said he had been approached by key trade union figures who wanted him to stand and was "flattered".He said he had been approached by key trade union figures who wanted him to stand and was "flattered".
But he insisted that major reforms were needed, and whoever won the post should not also be given the title of Deputy Prime Minister, as John Prescott had been.But he insisted that major reforms were needed, and whoever won the post should not also be given the title of Deputy Prime Minister, as John Prescott had been.
Mr Cruddas told the Guardian: "Right now I am not crunching any numbers. That would be presumptuous. There is no vacancy.Mr Cruddas told the Guardian: "Right now I am not crunching any numbers. That would be presumptuous. There is no vacancy.
"I am trying to see if I can start a rolling debate about what this job is, and how the party needs to organise itself. One thing is for certain: the status quo is not an option.""I am trying to see if I can start a rolling debate about what this job is, and how the party needs to organise itself. One thing is for certain: the status quo is not an option."
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has already announced a challenge for the deputy leadership, when a vacancy arises, and Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman has said she is considering a bid.Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has already announced a challenge for the deputy leadership, when a vacancy arises, and Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman has said she is considering a bid.