Blair sidesteps 'expiry date' probe
Blair sidesteps 'expiry date' probe
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Tuesday, 28, Mar 2006 01:16
Tony Blair has refused to say when he will step down as prime minister, but admitted that political leaders have an "expiry date" as speculation grows about his future.
During an interview for Australian television, the prime minister accepted that leaders have a point when they should step down but said that "sometimes they like to think about when that should be".
And Mr Blair refused to say when his own expiry date would be, insisting: "I am getting on with the job."
Mr Blair's latest sidestepping of the issue of the timescale for standing down as Labour leader comes after Downing Street was yesterday forced to clarify other comments made to the Australian media, where he appeared to admit that announcing he planned to serve a "full third term" and then stand down was a mistake.
No 10 later claimed that the prime minister had merely been saying it was a mistake to believe that his announcement would not cause controversy, but the pressure on Mr Blair has continued today.
Labour MPs raised the leadership issue during last night's weekly meeting of the parliamentary party - the first time it has been discussed since Mr Blair made his announcement.
And this morning, Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett revealed he had called on the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) to look at the issue, to ensure that the "orderly transition" the prime minister said he wants can be achieved.
"I'm not saying that we need to have the hour and minute nailed down but I do think that we ought to be discussing now how this is going to be managed, so that when the time does come it's orderly and a much more dignified process," Mr Trickett told the Today programme.
He added: "I think that there's no reason at all I can imagine why this shouldn't be a matter of public debate within the party and beyond. After all we're talking about the governance of the country as well as the Labour party."
Mr Blair is currently in Australia on a diplomatic visit to the country, meeting prime minister John Howard and discussing issues including the war on terror and climate change.