Blair confirms plan to resign

British Prime Minister Tony Blair outlines the Labour Party election manifesto as Minister of Transport Alistair Darling (L) and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw look on yesterday in London. Blair confirmed that he would step down as leader of the Labour Party after a possible third term in office, as he launched his party's election manifesto yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

"I have said that this is my last election. At the election following there will be a different leader," Blair said.

However Blair, flanked by six other ministers, including his most likely successor, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, insisted that he would serve a full third term in government if his party won a record third successive victory in the May 5 polls.

Asked by reporters if he wanted Brown to succeed him, the prime minister said the main issue was to focus on the elections and hold off on speculation.

"Before any of us... start discussing who should be the next prime minister, let's make sure I'm the next prime minister on May 5," he said.

"That's the important thing. I get very nervous about assuming things; there is nothing to be assumed at all."