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I created uncertainty, Blair says | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Tony Blair has admitted that he created a period of "uncertainty" for his government when he announced he would step down later this year. | |
"It hasn't been easy," he said in an interview with the Observer newspaper. | |
But he insisted that he would have had "a load of different problems" if he had not announced his plans to quit. | But he insisted that he would have had "a load of different problems" if he had not announced his plans to quit. |
The prime minister said he did not want to repeat Margaret Thatcher's experience of being "absolutely belted and chucked out" by her own party. | |
In a wide-ranging interview with the Observer, Mr Blair suggested that his departure would help the Labour Party win back voters who deserted it because of his decision to support US-led military action in Iraq. | |
Talking about the 2005 election, he said: "Iraq was a factor then. In a sense, when I go, that goes with me." | Talking about the 2005 election, he said: "Iraq was a factor then. In a sense, when I go, that goes with me." |
Mr Blair played down suggestions that his successor would have to call a snap election to earn his own mandate as prime minister, saying he expected it to be "a significant time" before the poll was called. | |
It wasn't really my desire last year to have a situation where all this uncertainty was created. Tony Blair | It wasn't really my desire last year to have a situation where all this uncertainty was created. Tony Blair |
He declined to offer a fresh endorsement of Gordon Brown as his successor, referring instead to the "myriad of complimentary things I have said in the past" about him. | He declined to offer a fresh endorsement of Gordon Brown as his successor, referring instead to the "myriad of complimentary things I have said in the past" about him. |
He refused to rule out the possibility that David Cameron's Conservatives would win the next General Election, saying only that Labour should not be "fearful" of the opposition. | He refused to rule out the possibility that David Cameron's Conservatives would win the next General Election, saying only that Labour should not be "fearful" of the opposition. |
Choosing a new leader, would be "a test of maturity" for Labour, said Mr Blair. | Choosing a new leader, would be "a test of maturity" for Labour, said Mr Blair. |
But he rejected suggestions that the launch of a website to debate future Labour policy by Blairite former ministers Charles Clarke and Alan Milburn would stir up trouble for the party. | But he rejected suggestions that the launch of a website to debate future Labour policy by Blairite former ministers Charles Clarke and Alan Milburn would stir up trouble for the party. |
On his decision to announce his plans to quit as prime minister, he said: "It wasn't really my desire last year to have a situation where all this uncertainty was created. | |
"There is always a debate about whether I was sensible to say I wouldn't fight a fourth election - though personally I think I'd have had a load of different problems if I hadn't. | "There is always a debate about whether I was sensible to say I wouldn't fight a fourth election - though personally I think I'd have had a load of different problems if I hadn't. |
"It hasn't been easy, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been easier if I hadn't said it. Mrs Thatcher kept saying she was going on and on because people kept asking her, and in the end she got absolutely belted and chucked out." | "It hasn't been easy, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been easier if I hadn't said it. Mrs Thatcher kept saying she was going on and on because people kept asking her, and in the end she got absolutely belted and chucked out." |
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