LONDON, May 26: Tony Blair's deputy revived speculation on Wednesday about the troubled prime minister's future by hinting there was a chance Blair may not lead his ruling Labour Party into Britain's next general election.

The comments by John Prescott come just days after he kicked off a political storm when he acknowledged publicly that Blair could bow out early and said "plates appear to be moving" around the prime minister in preparation for a seismic shift.

"I am convinced...from my talks with Tony, of course, that he would like to lead us into that election," Prescott told reporters on Wednesday in reference to an expected 2005 ballot. "But he always considers events, events, events."

"There is no doubt that if Tony Blair is leading us, as I believe he will, we will win the election," he added. Political commentators seized on Prescott's reference to "events" and use of "if" - a word hitherto taboo among party faithful - to reignite the premiership debate.

Speculation about an end to the Blair era after seven years in power has mounted as the prime minister's public trust and popularity ratings have plummeted in the wake of the Iraq war.

That has led some in his Labour Party to conclude the man who was once their best electoral asset may be turning into a liability and that Labour may stand a better chance of staying in office with finance minister Gordon Brown at the helm.

Blair has vowed to serve a full third term if he is re-elected but Prescott's interventions - whether gaffes or spoken with intent - have sparked dismay among commentators.

Prescott said in a newspaper interview 10 days ago that "people" were talking about an end to Blair's premiership and suggested ministers were jostling for position.

"I think it's true that, when plates appear to be moving, everyone positions themselves for it," Prescott said, adding that "every British prime minister goes eventually". Blair has called leadership speculation "fluff" and a media "parlour game" while Prescott himself has dismissed it as "press prattle".

Nevertheless, he waded back into the debate on Wednesday. "I can tell you for sure that if he decides, and I am sure he will, that he wants to fight the next election, he would have the full support of the party," Prescott told BBC Radio.

Asked to clarify those comments at a later news conference, he said there was no doubt in his mind about Blair's future. But he added: "I'm not in Tony's mind. He has to make the decision." -Reuters