This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/5319328.stm

The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Blair faces wave of resignations Blair faces wave of resignations
(30 minutes later)
Tony Blair has faced a wave of resignations by junior members of his government over his refusal to name a date for resignation as Labour leader.Tony Blair has faced a wave of resignations by junior members of his government over his refusal to name a date for resignation as Labour leader.
He branded ex-junior minister Tom Watson, the most senior person to quit, "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing a letter urging him to go.He branded ex-junior minister Tom Watson, the most senior person to quit, "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing a letter urging him to go.
The resignations came as Mr Blair faces growing pressure to name a departure date before the end of the year. The resignations came as Mr Blair faces growing pressure to name a departure date or even quit now.
Gordon Brown backers say claims the PM will go by May are "not good enough".Gordon Brown backers say claims the PM will go by May are "not good enough".
'Great sadness''Great sadness'
Just minutes after Mr Watson announced his decision to quit, Mr Blair said he was going to sack him anyway. Mr Watson and the six parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) - who are unpaid ministerial aides at the bottom rung of the government ladder - were among 17 normally loyal Labour MPs who signed a letter calling on Mr Blair to quit.
Mr Watson and the six parliamentary secretaries were among 17 normally loyal Labour MPs who signed a letter calling on Mr Blair to quit.
The six were: Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole and David Wright.The six were: Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole and David Wright.
They resigned saying it was no longer in the country's best interests for Mr Blair to remain in office. Mr Watson has already been replaced by junior transport minister Derek Twigg. Just minutes after Mr Watson announced his decision to quit, Mr Blair said he was going to sack him anyway.
To sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong Tony Blair In full: Watson's resignation Analysis: Can Blair hang on? In full: Mahmood's letter In full: PM letter to Watson To sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong Tony Blair In full: Watson's resignation Analysis: Can Blair hang on? In full: Mahmood's letter In full: PM letter to Watson href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5320046.stm" class="">Profile: Tom Watson
The Sun newspaper said earlier that Mr Blair will go on 31 May, but Number 10 has insisted it did not leak the date to the newspaper adding it would not be giving a "running commentary on dates". In a joint statement, four of the group said Mr Blair had "not ended the uncertainty over when you intend to leave office, which is damaging the government and the party".
In his letter to Mr Blair, Mr Watson wrote: "It is with the greatest sadness that I have to say that I no longer believe that your remaining in office is in the interest of either the party or the country." Mr Watson, who has already been replaced by junior transport minister Derek Twigg, said he no longer believed that it was in the best interests of the party or the country for Mr Blair to continue.
Mr Blair said of his ex-minister: "I had been intending to dismiss him but wanted to extend to him the courtesy of speaking to him first. But Mr Blair hit back saying that calls for his resignation were putting Labour's electoral prospects at risk.
"Had he come to me privately and expressed his view about the leadership, that would have been one thing. He said he had been "intending to dismiss" Mr Watson "but wanted to extend to him the courtesy of speaking to him first".
The prime minister added: "Had he come to me privately and expressed his view about the leadership, that would have been one thing.
"But to sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong."But to sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong.
"It would therefore have been impossible for him to remain in government.""It would therefore have been impossible for him to remain in government."
'Change wanted''Change wanted'
The Sun newspaper said earlier that Mr Blair will go on 31 May, but Number 10 has insisted it had not leaked the date.
I am a little sceptical about the date that appeared overnight... BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
Meanwhile, leading Brownites are calling for the prime minister to make a public declaration about when he will go, so that he cannot go back on it.Meanwhile, leading Brownites are calling for the prime minister to make a public declaration about when he will go, so that he cannot go back on it.
One of the chancellor's closest allies, who asked not to be named, told the BBC News website: "From Gordon's point of view there has to be a public statement.One of the chancellor's closest allies, who asked not to be named, told the BBC News website: "From Gordon's point of view there has to be a public statement.
"Blair has to let it be known when he will go and there has to be a public declaration.""Blair has to let it be known when he will go and there has to be a public declaration."
I am a little sceptical about the date that appeared overnight... BBC political editor Nick Robinson href="http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2006/09/is_it_to_be_may.html" class="">Read Nick's thoughts in full 'Worst time'
Ex-minister Doug Henderson, also a Brown supporter, says he cannot see what Mr Blair will achieve in the next 12 months.Ex-minister Doug Henderson, also a Brown supporter, says he cannot see what Mr Blair will achieve in the next 12 months.
"There should be a new leader in place by the end of March," he said, in time for the local elections and mid-term polls in Scotland and Wales."There should be a new leader in place by the end of March," he said, in time for the local elections and mid-term polls in Scotland and Wales.
He said the timetable suggested by allies of Mr Blair - that he would go in about 12 months time - seemed "the worst time to appoint a new leader". He said the timetable suggested on Tuesday by allies of Mr Blair - that he would go in about 12 months time - seemed "the worst time to appoint a new leader".
"People in the country want a change," he told the BBC News website."People in the country want a change," he told the BBC News website.
But although he thought Mr Brown was "head and shoulders above any other candidate" he still believed there should be a proper leadership contest. Ex-Cabinet minister David Blunkett said it was now "pretty clear that there is an understanding about a date next year - whether it's 31 May when he announces it is open to speculation".
The Sun said that after stepping down as Labour leader on 31 May, Mr Blair's time as prime minister would come to an end on 26 July 2007.
Ex-Cabinet minister David Blunkett told the BBC that it was now "pretty clear that there is an understanding about a date next year - whether it's 31 May when he announces it is open to speculation".
Commons leader Jack Straw says Labour MPs should stop their "obsession" about the timetable for Mr Blair's departure, but he added that he would be "very happy to serve with Gordon Brown".
Conservative leader David Cameron said the government was "in meltdown", while Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell added that Mr Blair "should either resign or state a date".Conservative leader David Cameron said the government was "in meltdown", while Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell added that Mr Blair "should either resign or state a date".