Tony Blair has conceded he will not serve a "full term" before standing down but rejected pressure from Labour MPs for him to announce his departure date. The Prime Minister told the Parliamentary Labour Party last night that he would give "ample time" to his successor to take over before the next general election. He denied he would damage Labour's prospects by hanging on too long, saying: "My legacy is a fourth term for Labour." Although two MPs, Andrew Smith and Geraldine Smith, urged Mr Blair to announce his departure timetable, most of those present appeared to welcome his assurances. There was growing speculation that he would quit in May next year after completing 10 years in Downing Street. After a packed, one-hour meeting, critics welcomed Mr Blair's shift away from his previous formula that he would serve a full term. "We have been eyeball-to-eyeball and the Prime Minister just blinked," one said. Earlier, Mr Blair had a meeting with Gordon Brown at Downing Street at which they held "talks about talks" on how to handle the succession and end the damaging infighting that has erupted since Labour lost more than 300 seats at Thursday's local elections.
The Prime Minister told the Parliamentary Labour Party last night that he would give "ample time" to his successor to take over before the next general election. He denied he would damage Labour's prospects by hanging on too long, saying: "My legacy is a fourth term for Labour."
Although two MPs, Andrew Smith and Geraldine Smith, urged Mr Blair to announce his departure timetable, most of those present appeared to welcome his assurances. There was growing speculation that he would quit in May next year after completing 10 years in Downing Street.
After a packed, one-hour meeting, critics welcomed Mr Blair's shift away from his previous formula that he would serve a full term. "We have been eyeball-to-eyeball and the Prime Minister just blinked," one said.
Earlier, Mr Blair had a meeting with Gordon Brown at Downing Street at which they held "talks about talks" on how to handle the succession and end the damaging infighting that has erupted since Labour lost more than 300 seats at Thursday's local elections.
Tony Blair abandoned his election promise to serve a full third term last night, indicating that he could stand down next summer. Although he refused to set a timetable for his departure, saying that it would paralyse government, he anointed Gordon Brown as his successor and promised to give him sufficient time to establish himself before the next election. As the Labour Party stood on the brink of civil war over the timing of the succession, the Prime Minister acknowledged that he could not go on to the end of his third term, which could last until 2009 or even 2010. He appealed to the party to calm down and trust him to "honour" his commitment to ensure a stable and orderly transition, "with the time plainly needed for my successor to establish himself". At a packed meeting of Labour MPs at Westminster, Mr Blair spoke of allowing his successor "ample" time, saying that he wanted his legacy to be a "fourth term for Labour". One of the MPs present said he expected Mr Blair to hand over to Mr Brown at the party conference in the autumn of 2007, giving the new leader 18 months to prepare for the next election. Although some MPs were critical of Mr Blair, party officials said the majority had been reassured by his promise to allow "plenty of time" for his successor.
Although he refused to set a timetable for his departure, saying that it would paralyse government, he anointed Gordon Brown as his successor and promised to give him sufficient time to establish himself before the next election.
As the Labour Party stood on the brink of civil war over the timing of the succession, the Prime Minister acknowledged that he could not go on to the end of his third term, which could last until 2009 or even 2010. He appealed to the party to calm down and trust him to "honour" his commitment to ensure a stable and orderly transition, "with the time plainly needed for my successor to establish himself".
At a packed meeting of Labour MPs at Westminster, Mr Blair spoke of allowing his successor "ample" time, saying that he wanted his legacy to be a "fourth term for Labour".
One of the MPs present said he expected Mr Blair to hand over to Mr Brown at the party conference in the autumn of 2007, giving the new leader 18 months to prepare for the next election. Although some MPs were critical of Mr Blair, party officials said the majority had been reassured by his promise to allow "plenty of time" for his successor.
This is Clinton-esque, ample has now become the "is". It depends on what the meaning is.
Given that Blair, via John Reid, has made plain his view that Brown is Old Labour, it is obvious that Blair will hang on and on waiting like Rapunzel for somebody else to let his hair down for. And if the tower rots around him, then so be it.
David Cameron must be beside himself with glee. keep to the Fen Causeway
Frontpage intro translation:
The Progidy of the Left Could Fall Into His Sword The air is getting thinner around Tony Bliar. This is not the first time there is rebellion against him in his party, but the politician admired abroad by many, for example [Hungarian PM] Ferenc Gyurcsány, won't be able to last much longer.
The air is getting thinner around Tony Bliar. This is not the first time there is rebellion against him in his party, but the politician admired abroad by many, for example [Hungarian PM] Ferenc Gyurcsány, won't be able to last much longer.
If Bliar's utterly disgusting stardom among European centre-left leaders could end, that will be the end of the Third Way 'New Left' and could lead to a continent-wide re-thinking. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
