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| I will quit within a year - Blair | I will quit within a year - Blair |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has confirmed he will be stepping down as prime minister within the next 12 months. | 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. | 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 over 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. | 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. | 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. | "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 said the statement would not be enough to quell dissent. | |
| I am determined that in the months and years to come we continue to do our duty by the people of Britain Gordon Brown Analysis: Blair's final gamble In full: Blair statement In full: Brown statement Voters' panel verdict | |
| 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". | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | "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' | 'Comfortable' |
| Mr Blair's official spokesman said earlier that Mr Blair would not be "giving a running commentary" on exit dates. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Just resign Tony and call an election Edward Dowty, Kings Lynn, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Just resign Tony and call an election Edward Dowty, Kings Lynn, UK Send us your comments |
| 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 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. | 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. | 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. | It was followed by a day of open warfare between supporters of the chancellor and Mr Blair over when the prime minister should quit. |