10/05/2007

Blair calls time as Prime Minister

The Prime Minister has announced that he will stand down on June 27.

As expected, Tony Blair announced the news to a gathering of party supporters in Sedgefield following a Cabinet briefing this morning.

He said ten years was enough and said: "I ask you to accept one thing: hand on heart, I did what I thought was right."

Mr Blair said he had entered office with high hopes and said that he left it with "high hopes for the future."

He received a standing ovation from the Labour Party members at the Trimdon Labour club.

Earlier as the Cabinet meeting concluded, Mr Blair said he did not want tribute paid to him. However, Chancellor Gordon Brown thanked the Prime Minister for his "unique achievement over 10 years and the unique leadership he had given."

Mr Blair will continue to represent the Sedgefield constituency until the next general election. However there is speculation that Mr Blair may be offered another international appointment, which would result in him stepping down as an MP.

The Labour Party will now elect a new leader.

Conservative leader David Cameron said that until a new Labour leader was elected he said it was a government of the "living dead."

The Liberal Democrats have tabled a motion calling for the Queen to dissolve parliament.

(SP/KMcA)

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