ISN'T CABINET GOVERNMENT SUPPOSED TO AVOID THIS LAMEDUCKISM?:

The long goodbye (Toby Helm and Brendan Carlin, 06/09/2006, Daily Telegraph)

Tony Blair has caved in to pressure from his MPs, it was reported last night, by setting May 31 next year for his resignation as Labour leader.

An eight-week leadership election campaign will follow allowing a new leader — the favourite being Gordon Brown — to be chosen by July 26, when Mr Blair will step down as Prime Minister. [...]

The decision by Cabinet ministers to place a limit of a year on Mr Blair's tenure reflected mounting panic in Downing Street as up to 100 Labour backbenchers prepared to sign demands for him to set a clear timetable for departure.

The Prime Minister infuriated colleagues last week by suggesting he would not be pushed into making public a timetable for his departure.

But since then aides have suggested he did not mean to appear defiant and had intended to reassure MPs he would not "go on and on".

Frustration at the refusal to offer clarity about a departure date boiled over yesterday.

Three letters circulated among MPs demanding that he make his intention clear. Many of those who signed an initial letter sent to Mr Blair were formerly loyal supporters of the New Labour project.

Those calling for him to go immediately included Tom Watson, a junior member of the defence team.

Last night, Labour sources cast doubt on whether Mr Blair could last until May.