Prescott fuels fresh Blair rumours

John Prescott reopened speculation that Tony Blair could step down with a spectacular double gaffe today.

The Deputy Prime Minister put his foot in it first by saying Mr Blair's leadership at the next election was a matter of "if " rather than when.

Two hours later, he blundered again - this time saying Mr Blair could "follow the example of Harold Wilson" and quit two years after the election.

Both errors were met with howls of dismay in Downing Street where Labour aides are desperate to convince voters Mr Blair will serve a full third term.

The Prime Minister ' s spokesman frostily refused to comment on his deputy's verbal tangles, which began at 8.20am in a Radio 4 interview.

Mr Prescott said: "Tony Blair has been the most successful Prime Minister we have had, everybody agrees that.

"Indeed, I can tell you for sure that if he decides - and I'm sure he will - that he wants to fight the next election, he will have the full support of the party."

Despite his attempt to correct himself, the use of "if " contradicted the official No10 line that Mr Blair is fully determined to fight the next election and stay in office for a complete third term, implying five more years in power.

Two hours later, at a council elections press conference, Mr Prescott dug himself deeper in the hole while trying to correct the impression he had given.

This time he added to the sense that Mr Blair's mind was undecided and raised the prospect of him copying Harold Wilson who quit in 1976.

"There's no doubt in my mind. I'm not Tony's mind; he has to make the decision. If he decides, as I believe he will, I am sure we will win the next election," he said.

But he added: "If I had said that before Harold Wilson had made his statement - I could never know what people's minds are - I'm convinced he [Mr Blair] would like to lead us into the next election but he always considers events, events, events."

Asked if Mr Blair had signalled he would serve a full term, Mr Prescott replied: "We haven't talked about it."

It comes a fortnight after Gordon Brown caused fury by speaking in an interview of "plates" moving in Downing Street because ministers believed Mr Blair would retire early. He said today his remarks then had been misconstrued.

"What I was saying is some people perceived that was happening and therefore wanted to make statements but, look, that's water under the bridge now," Mr Brown said. Westminster has been a-buzz with rumours that Mr Prescott sees himself as playing a role in ensuring a peaceful transfer of power to Mr Brown when Mr Blair retires.

Mr Prescott made light of his meeting with Mr Brown, when the pair were seen in the car park of a Scottish oyster bar. He told Radio 4 they were talking about buying kippers: "Did he want one pair or two?"

New polling evidence today cast doubt on whether a takeover by Mr Brown would help Labour's re-election campaign.

A survey suggested Labour turnout in the party's heartlands would leap upwards if the Chancellor moved into No10 - but he would have much less impact in decisive marginal seats.

The findings, which confirm Labour's own private analysis, are a blow to supporters of Mr Brown, who claim Mr Blair should stand aside before the general election.