Blair not for quitting

Tony Blair today prepared to fight off claims he was ready to step down as Prime Minister after the referendum on Europe's planned new constitution.

The Prime Minister's aides were infuriated by suggestions from European Commissioner Neil Kinnock that he could step down after the next election.

Former Labour leader Mr Kinnock claimed it would be "human and understandable" if Mr Blair were to "hang up his boots" after leading his party to a historic third-successive election victory.

His remarks caused consternation in Downing Street, where officials were poised to launch a fightback today by claiming the Prime Minister was firmly focused on the future. Privately, Mr Kinnock's comments were put down to his annoyance over Mr Blair's gamble last week. Mr Kinnock is strongly opposed to referendum plans.

Mr Blair is facing a growing Labour revolt over the referendum - with his strongest supporters aghast at what they see as a move to pander to the Eurosceptic agenda. Some 50 Labour MPs are set to rebel over the constitution while weekend opinion polls showed big majorities in favour of a "No" vote.

Some Cabinet ministers are also furious at the way the move was announced. Education Secretary Charles Clarke has refused to back the referendum in public while Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has sounded lukewarm. One report has claimed Mr Clarke held a "stand-up row" with the Prime Minister. Commonsleader Peter Hain, who was one of the loudest defenders of Mr Blair's previous stance of refusing a referendum, is also said to be in a state of despondency over the U-turn.

Open speculation about Mr Blair's future has taken the row to a whole new level, amid fresh claims he has struck a private deal with Gordon Brown to step down soon after the next election, set to be held next spring or summer.

Mr Blair, 50, has stuck firmly to the line that he intends to fight the next election and serve a full term, so senior figures at Downing Street were greatly angered by Mr Kinnock's intervention.

The former leader told the BBC that he Mr Blair's ambition "is certainly to win a third term", but he would then have to "make his decisions accordingly".

Mr Kinnock added: "He is a young man. He will have been through an immensely trying period. It would be human... if in those circumstances he said 'I'll hang up my boots now'."