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Blair set to outline quit plans Blair set to outline quit plans
(10 minutes later)
Tony Blair is expected on Thursday to outline his plans for stepping down. Tony Blair is expected to outline his plans for leaving office after a wave of resignations from the government.
It is thought his announcement will be worded along the lines suggested by friends - that the next party conference will be his last. It is thought he will confirm what friends have said - that he will leave office by the time of the party conference in autumn 2007.
Meanwhile, former Home Secretary David Blunkett has told Gordon Brown's allies to stop trying to make the PM quit now. Former Home Secretary David Blunkett has told Gordon Brown's allies to stop trying to make Mr Blair quit now.
The plea came as Mr Blair faced a wave of resignations by junior members of the government over his refusal to name a date to resign as Labour leader. The plea came as Mr Blair suffered the resignation of eight junior members of the government over his leadership.
To sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong Tony Blair href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5320760.stm" class="">In full: Resignation letters href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5319148.stm" class="">Analysis: Can Blair hang on? BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair and Mr Brown had had an "acrimonious meeting" during the day, and that a close friend had indicated the chemistry between them had now collapsed.
To sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong Tony Blair In full: Resignation letters Analysis: Can Blair hang on? In full: 2001 intake letter
Earlier, Mr Blair branded ex-junior minister Tom Watson, the most senior person to quit, "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing a letter urging him to go.Earlier, Mr Blair branded ex-junior minister Tom Watson, the most senior person to quit, "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing a letter urging him to go.
Mr Watson and seven parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) - who are unpaid ministerial aides at the bottom rung of the government ladder - were among a number of normally loyal Labour MPs from the 2001 intake who signed a letter calling on Mr Blair to quit.Mr Watson and seven parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) - who are unpaid ministerial aides at the bottom rung of the government ladder - were among a number of normally loyal Labour MPs from the 2001 intake who signed a letter calling on Mr Blair to quit.
The seven were: Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole, David Wright and Iain Wright.The seven were: Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole, David Wright and Iain Wright.
Uncertainty
In a joint statement, four of the PPS 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 a joint statement, four of the PPS group said Mr Blair had "not ended the uncertainty over when you intend to leave office, which is damaging the government and the party".
Iain Wright, PPS in the Department of Health, said he "believed that the party and the government cannot renew itself in office without urgently renewing the leadership".
No one can benefit from a split in the government or the party now, or in the foreseeable future, and this is patently avoidable by a return to common sense David Blunkett In full: 2001 intake letter
The resignations came as Mr Blair faces growing pressure to name a departure date or even quit now.
Gordon Brown's backers say assurances he will resign in May are "not enough".
But Mr Blair's supporters claim the calls for him to quit are an orchestrated plot by supporters of Mr Brown, who has so far declined to comment on the furore.
Mr Blunkett says the dissidents should "step back from the brink" and back off.
"This is not only to avoid our opponents exploiting the impression of disintegration and division, but also to avoid the split of our party, which would have lasting consequences," he said in a statement.
GOVERNMENT HIERARCHY Cabinet: 23 people - appointed by PM to head departments and decide government policyMinister of State: 28 people - middle-ranking ministers responsible for specific areaParliamentary Secretaries/ Under secretaries of state: 36 people - the most junior ministers, often responsible for aspect of department's work Whips: 23 people - communicate government objectives and MPs' concerns Law Officers: 3 people - provide high-grade legal adviceParliamentary Private Secretaries: 55 people - act as unpaid assistant to minister. Seen as first rung on ladderGOVERNMENT HIERARCHY Cabinet: 23 people - appointed by PM to head departments and decide government policyMinister of State: 28 people - middle-ranking ministers responsible for specific areaParliamentary Secretaries/ Under secretaries of state: 36 people - the most junior ministers, often responsible for aspect of department's work Whips: 23 people - communicate government objectives and MPs' concerns Law Officers: 3 people - provide high-grade legal adviceParliamentary Private Secretaries: 55 people - act as unpaid assistant to minister. Seen as first rung on ladder
"No one can benefit from a split in the government or the party now, or in the foreseeable future, and this is patently avoidable by a return to common sense." Iain Wright, PPS in the Department of Health, and a hand-picked replacement for the safe seat of Hartlepool formerly held by Peter Mandelson, said he "believed that the party and the government cannot renew itself in office without urgently renewing the leadership".
Mr Brown's allies deny he is plotting against Mr Blair. Gordon Brown's backers say that assurances Mr Blair will resign in May are "not enough", but deny that the chancellor is plotting against the PM.
But Labour backbencher John Grogan said: "We're looking to the chancellor I think now, Gordon Brown, to come forward and steady the ship." But Mr Blair's supporters claim the calls for him to quit are an orchestrated plot by supporters of Mr Brown.
"And if him and Tony Blair are not on the phone this afternoon then they should be and I think that's what most party members in the country think." Mr Brown has so far declined to comment on the furore.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said a close friend of Mr Blair and Mr Brown said the chemistry between them had now collapsed. Mr Blunkett says the dissidents should "step back from the brink" and back off to avoid a split in the party.
Also on Wednesday, it emerged that Environment Secretary David Miliband had suggested no other Cabinet ministers should challenge Mr Brown for the leadership.
Mr Miliband, seen as a potential deputy leadership contender, used an interview with The New Statesman magazine to make clear his support for the chancellor.
HAVE YOUR SAY I think Mr Blair is left with no option but to lay out a clear timetable for departure Mark Thomas, Hastings Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I think Mr Blair is left with no option but to lay out a clear timetable for departure Mark Thomas, Hastings Send us your comments
"The smooth transition to Gordon Brown, the energising, refreshing transition to Gordon Brown - not to anyone else - is a transition that is about ideas and values more than about dates," he says. Also on Wednesday, it emerged that environment secretary and potential deputy leadership candidate David Miliband had told the New Statesman magazine no other Cabinet ministers should challenge Mr Brown for the leadership.
Mr Miliband also confirms reports that he was "seriously worried" about Mr Blair's refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon last month.Mr Miliband also confirms reports that he was "seriously worried" about Mr Blair's refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon last month.