I created uncertainty, Blair says

[T_i_B]

No he's not referring to Iraq, he's referring to the state of the Labour party.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6416431.stm

Tony Blair has admitted that he created a period of "uncertainty" for his government when he announced he would step down later this year. "It hasn't been easy," he said in an interview with the Observer newspaper.

But he insisted that he would have had "a load of different problems" if he had not announced his plans to quit. The prime minister said he did not want to repeat Margaret Thatcher's experience of being "absolutely belted and chucked out" by her own party.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Observer, Mr Blair suggested that his departure would help the Labour Party win back voters who deserted it because of his decision to support US-led military action in Iraq.

Talking about the 2005 election, he said: "Iraq was a factor then. In a sense, when I go, that goes with me."

[tanyev]

1. Then step down now, Tony. Problem solved.

[T_i_B]

3. The reason why he won't right now...

...is that we have elections to the Scottish Parliament in early May and he doesn't want the Scottish Nationalists becoming the majority party in Edinburgh.

There are also a few other elections at that time such as Local Government elections and to that end Labour don't want a leadership contests until after the event because they want to concentrate on the elections in hand first before installing Gordon Brown as PM and arguing about who should be his deputy.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Interesting that he admits some parallels with Maggie!

I would love to see him 'absolutely belted and chucked out' by his party!

[DemKR]

4. Gee, ya think, Tony?