LONDON, May 9: British Prime Minister Tony Blair raised expectations on Tuesday he would quit within a year as his government’s popularity plummeted and his heir apparent warned against a repeat of Margaret Thatcher’s ‘undignified’ exit. Following one of his most bruising weeks in his nine years in power, Mr Blair held his monthly press conference, sounding both tough and conciliatory notes.
He rejected calls by Labour rebels to name the day that he intends to resign, saying it would paralyse government, but he added that his plan was to ensure ‘a stable and orderly transition’ to a new prime minister.
The plan would provide for ‘the time plainly needed for my successor to establish himself’, Mr Blair said.
And he also confirmed that he saw his obvious successor as Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, his finance minister who has been waiting in the wings to assume the office at number 10 Downing Street.
In an interview with GMTV on Tuesday, Mr Brown said: “Tony said that he is going to be doing it in a stable and orderly way, that means that he is going to be talking not just to me but to senior colleagues about it.
“Remember when Mrs (Margaret) Thatcher left, it was unstable, it was disorderly and it was undignified,” he added.
“I think we will prove to the world that we can do these things in an orderly, dignified and sensible and proper way, and do it in a way that is unifying as well as unified.”
His allusion to Thatcher’s ejection from office in 1990 after senior colleagues withdrew their backing could be an implicit warning that Mr Blair could face the same fate if he tries to stay on.
Some 50 rebels have now signed up to a draft letter demanding a timetable for a ‘dignified, orderly and efficient’ leadership transition to be set out by July.
A BBC radio survey of 104 Labour backbenchers found 52 who believed Mr Blair should stand down within a year.
In a closed door meeting with Labour members of parliament on Monday, Mr Blair reportedly declared that he would give his successor ‘ample’ time to settle in.
His comments reinforced an impression that he was retreating from his previously declared intention of completing a full third term, which would end at the next elections due by May 2010.
The Guardian said the prime minister’s remarks and other private assurances given to Brown’s team appeared to “assuage some of the rebels as well as the chancellor’s aides.”
It added: “Many MPs now believe Mr. Blair will stand down next year, an assurance that is being disseminated to MPs unofficially by some in Downing Street.”
The Financial Times reported that Downing Street officials refused to indicate what Mr Blair’s remarks meant in terms of timing, “but close allies did not disagree when it was put to them that Mr. Blair’s comments pointed to a mid-2007 departure.”
BUSY REFORM AGENDA: Labour parliamentarian Geraldine Smith said she still wanted Mr Blair and Mr Brown to prove by their actions they were united.
Relations between the two most powerful men in British politics have been tense for years. “This is hugely distracting and damaging. I don’t think people like to see the Labour Party infighting or the government unstable at the top,” Mr Smith said.
Fellow Labour lawmaker John Grogan said Mr Blair had promised ‘ample time’ for his successor to settle in. “It would be disastrous if there isn’t evidence (of unity),” he added.
Mr Brown has called for Labour ‘renewal’ and said he would work together with Mr Blair, but critics say the reshuffle showed no sign of the promised ‘orderly and stable transition’ to Mr Brown.—AFP/Reuters
