Blair to step down in June after tumultuous
decade
Prime Minister Tony Blair announced his resignation Thursday,
ending a tumultuous decade as one of Britain's most successful
leaders who divided the nation over the Iraq war.
Blair, who will stand down on June 27, defended his record
supporting the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks
and the Iraq invasion, insisting: "Hand on heart, I did what I
thought was right."
An emotional Blair told supporters at his northern England
constituency, "I may have been wrong, that's your call. But believe
one thing, if nothing else I did what I thought was right for our
country."
"I thank the British people for the times that it went right. And I
apologise for the times I have fallen short."
Blair, 54, will leave office after 10 years in power which started
with the handover of Hong Kong to China on July 1, 1997 a few weeks
after the first of his three general election triumphs.
He guided the nation and the royal family through the trauma of the
death of Princess Diana, presided over a booming British economy
and secured a peace deal for Northern Ireland, which was finally
sealed this week.
But for many his legacy risks being clouded by the 2003 invasion of
Iraq.
His premiership started amid euphoria but is ending with his
popularity at record lows.
Blair said he had taken over a country "uncertain of its future,
uncertain about the future," but insisted his government had
achieved more than any other in Britain since 1945 because of the
improved economy.
"I have been prime minister of this country for just over 10 years.
In this job, in the world today, I think that is long enough for
me."
Britain's deputy prime minister John Prescott, who has frequently
made newspaper headlines with his comments and his private life,
said he would also stand down.
Finance minister Gordon Brown, the frontrunner to replace Blair
despite their rivalry, hailed the prime minister's "unique
leadership" at a cabinet meeting in London before Blair flew off to
Trimdon in northeast England to make his announcement, a spokesman
said.
"There was much thumping of the table," said the spokesman.
"Gordon paid a very full tribute to Tony in there," added Northern
Ireland Secretary Peter Hain.
Despite his poll slump at home, Blair remains a hugely popular
figure in the United States and many other countries.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised Blair saying: "He has
achieved great results for the past 10 years. He won people's
support by developing the economy and carrying out education
reforms."
Blair won three general elections and originally promised to serve
a full third term of office, which would have kept him in office to
2010, but not fight for a fourth term in office.
But after a mini "coup" by some Labour lawmakers last September,
allegedly orchestrated by Brown, Blair was forced to say he would
step down by September this year.
Brown, 56, who shared an office with Blair when they were first
elected to parliament in 1983 and who jointly reformed Labour, is a
virtual certainty to become his successor.
Senior cabinet-level colleagues, including Home Secretary John Reid
and the much-fancied Environment Secretary David Miliband, have
ruled out standing, leaving only two token challengers from the
left wing of the party.
Under the British system, the leader of the biggest party in
parliament automatically becomes prime minister.
Blair is expected to endorse Brown publicly as his successor for
the first time, although observers believe he could delay this
until Friday.
The pair's relationship has soured over the years, particularly
over Brown's perception that Blair repeatedly reneged on a 1994
deal to hand over the reins of power to him after two terms of
office.
Blair will remain in office as Labour leader and prime minister as
well as a lawmaker during the campaign to succeed him.
He is due at the Group of Eight meeting in Germany and the European
leaders summit in June and is expected to travel widely, including
to France, the United States and Africa.
Speculation is mounting as to his future plans, which could include
a possible international role such as president of the European
Union, or making money on the lucrative lecture circuit, or simply
writing his memoirs.
Blair's agent confirmed that Blair will stay on as a member of
parliament, unless he is offered a "mammoth" international job
after his resignation.
"He's not going to leave to go swanning around the United States
doing lecture tours and things. That will come later," John Burton
told reporters outside Trimdon Labour club.
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock paid tribute to Blair as he
prepared to make his announcement.
"The one word that has to be associated with Tony is 'winner'," he
told BBC radio.
