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01/09/2006
Blair remains defiant over departure plans
Prime Minister Tony Blair is continuing to refuse to set a date for his departure from Downing Street, despite increasing calls from Labour MPs to announce when he will step down.
Mr Blair has indicated that he will step down as PM before the next General Election but has refused to set an actual date for his departure.
In an interview with 'The Times', the Prime Minister said: "I really think it is absurd for the people who say we must stop this continual speculation about the leadership to continue to speculate about it.
"I'm not the one who keeps raising this issue. I have done what no other prime minister has done before me. I've said I'm not going to go on and on and on and said I'll leave ample time for me successor.
"Now at some point I think people have to accept that as a reasonable proposition and let me get on with the job."
However, a number of Labour backbenchers have called on Mr Blair to say when he plans to step down as leader. They include former Cabinet minister Andrew Smith, who said that the continuation of Mr Blair's leadership was bad for the government, while Labour MP Geraldine Smith told the BBC that Mr Blair was damaging both the Labour party and the government.
However, former Home Secretary David Blunkett said he was "absolutely certain" that Mr Blair had held talks with senior colleagues about stepping down and leaving a "lengthy period" between standing down and the General Election.
Chancellor Gordon Brown is widely regarded as the most likely person to take over from Mr Blair when he resigns.
(KMcA)
Mr Blair has indicated that he will step down as PM before the next General Election but has refused to set an actual date for his departure.
In an interview with 'The Times', the Prime Minister said: "I really think it is absurd for the people who say we must stop this continual speculation about the leadership to continue to speculate about it.
"I'm not the one who keeps raising this issue. I have done what no other prime minister has done before me. I've said I'm not going to go on and on and on and said I'll leave ample time for me successor.
"Now at some point I think people have to accept that as a reasonable proposition and let me get on with the job."
However, a number of Labour backbenchers have called on Mr Blair to say when he plans to step down as leader. They include former Cabinet minister Andrew Smith, who said that the continuation of Mr Blair's leadership was bad for the government, while Labour MP Geraldine Smith told the BBC that Mr Blair was damaging both the Labour party and the government.
However, former Home Secretary David Blunkett said he was "absolutely certain" that Mr Blair had held talks with senior colleagues about stepping down and leaving a "lengthy period" between standing down and the General Election.
Chancellor Gordon Brown is widely regarded as the most likely person to take over from Mr Blair when he resigns.
(KMcA)
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