Labour urged to make plan for swift Blair exit

The Guardian February 4, 2007 09:52 PM

Senior Labour figures want the party to develop contingency plans for the prime minister's early departure if charges appear likely in the cash for honours inquiry. Some ministers and MPs want Tony Blair to announce the date of his departure now to mitigate the damage if the Crown Prosecution Service decides to prosecute. Others want officials to hammer out a timetable for the resulting leadership election.

Few want Mr Blair to depart before the Scottish, Welsh and local elections in May - despite an ICM/Sunday Express poll suggesting 56% of the public want him to quit now - and allies believe the CPS will still be considering charges by the time he announces his exit.

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