Ministers back Blair after Prescott exposé
Senior ministers were jockeying for position in anticipation of the British Prime Minister stepping down, Mr Prescott said.
His disclosure was followed by reports that he had held secret talks on a “peaceful succession” with Chancellor Gordon Brown.
That was dismissed by a spokesman for Mr Brown, who said the pair simply shared a car following a memorial service for former Labour leader John Smith last Sunday.
However, other reports suggested the Chancellor was preparing to take charge amid questions over Mr Blair’s intentions and continuing problems in Iraq.
Labour officials have publicly agreed with a poll suggesting the PM has become an electoral liability.
And as Mr Blair faces fresh unrest from his MPs over sending more troops to Iraq, leaked private polling for Labour was said to have reached the same conclusion.
Despite these blows he will stay on at least until elections are held in Iraq next January, according to The Observer.
That was backed up by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon who said on Iraq, the premier was “absolutely determined to see this job through”.
He was among Cabinet ministers who queued up to pay tribute to Mr Blair’s achievements and stress he remained in charge.
Commons leader Peter Hain warned it would be “crazy to just duck for cover and panic and run around in a frenzy”.
Mr Hain said he had met the prime minister privately last Monday night and “he is absolutely determined to continue discharging the responsibilities of his office”.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, said to have forged an alliance with Mr Brown in recent months, said: “There are difficulties. But people misunderstand our Prime Minister Tony Blair if they somehow think he is going to run away from his responsibilities because there is a lot of speculation in the newspapers.”
Mr Straw said he was “certainly not” repositioning himself, saying: “I’m not going to either.”
However, Mr Prescott’s interview with The Times yesterday undid Mr Blair’s attempts to brush aside speculation about his long term future. The prime minister last week compared himself to an under-fire football manager, saying: “You just put it to one side and get on with the job.”
Cabinet colleagues have insisted Mr Blair will serve a full third term in Downing Street.
Mr Prescott said he had had “privileged discussions” with Mr Blair, saying: “I have another perspective.
“Those decisions will look after themselves, they are very personalised.”
Mr Prescott suggested that uncertainty was affecting the relations within the Cabinet.
“When the plates appear to be moving everyone positions themselves for it,” he said.
“When there is that kind of movement, people do reposition themselves.”
Asked if that meant the Cabinet was talking about life after Mr Blair he said: “Yes. People do talk about it and you get discussion ... every British Prime Minister goes eventually.”
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