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27/03/2006
Blair criticised over 'standing down' comments
Prime Minister Tony Blair has been criticised over remarking that it was a "mistake" to announce that he would step down before the next General Election.
During an interview with a radio station during his trip to Australia, Mr Blair said; "I think what happens when you get into your third term and you are coming up to your tenth year is that it really doesn't matter what you say. You are going to get people saying it should be time for a change or 'When are you going?' or 'Who's taking over?'.
However, Mr Blair admitted that the statement, made in September 2004, had been "an unusual thing" for him to say and he said: "Maybe that was a mistake."
Downing Street said that the Prime Minister had meant that it was a mistake to expect the statement to end speculation on his future.
However, Conservative leader David Cameron said that the comments had created "a lot of uncertainty". He said: "At the moment we have got a Prime Minister desperate to stay, a Chancellor desperate for him to go and a Cabinet who do not know whether to follow the leader today or wait for the leader tomorrow and as a result we have got bad government."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said that the Prime Minister should outline his "exit strategy". He said: "His admission in Australia has only added to the current uncertainty and sense of drift. The issue now is not the interests of the Labour Party but the good governance of Britain."
(KMcA/SP)
During an interview with a radio station during his trip to Australia, Mr Blair said; "I think what happens when you get into your third term and you are coming up to your tenth year is that it really doesn't matter what you say. You are going to get people saying it should be time for a change or 'When are you going?' or 'Who's taking over?'.
However, Mr Blair admitted that the statement, made in September 2004, had been "an unusual thing" for him to say and he said: "Maybe that was a mistake."
Downing Street said that the Prime Minister had meant that it was a mistake to expect the statement to end speculation on his future.
However, Conservative leader David Cameron said that the comments had created "a lot of uncertainty". He said: "At the moment we have got a Prime Minister desperate to stay, a Chancellor desperate for him to go and a Cabinet who do not know whether to follow the leader today or wait for the leader tomorrow and as a result we have got bad government."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said that the Prime Minister should outline his "exit strategy". He said: "His admission in Australia has only added to the current uncertainty and sense of drift. The issue now is not the interests of the Labour Party but the good governance of Britain."
(KMcA/SP)
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