BBC: British PM Blair 'Considered Resigning'

Reuters | July 10 2004

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair considered resigning last month and had to be persuaded to stay on by senior colleagues, the BBC reported Saturday.

Blair's office made no comment on the report, saying he had repeatedly insisted when asked about his future that he would lead his ruling Labor party into a third general election expected next year, which analysts predict he would win.

Blair, who has seen his ratings tumble in opinion polls since last year's war in Iraq, had been "seriously considering his position" following a series of attacks on his leadership, the broadcaster said in an unsourced report.

Three cabinet colleagues, Health Secretary John Reid, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Education Secretary Charles Clarke met Blair, urged him not to quit and sought to assure him he had wide government support, it said.

"I'm not going to speculate on what I see as Westminster gossip," Jowell told BBC radio Saturday. "Tony Blair is our prime minister -- the most successful prime minister of modern times. He will continue to lead our government."

Blair has come under pressure from within party ranks in recent months with some saying the time has come for him to step down. Some say he is no longer the Labour Party's best electoral asset and is a liability because of the unpopularity of the Iraq war.

Last month Blair admitted the war had cost his party votes when it was trounced in local government and European Parliament elections.

He will come under the spotlight again this week with the release of a report into British intelligence failings over Iraq's weaponry, and the staging of two closely watched by-elections.