Blair in hospital for heart treatment

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will go into hospital today for a two-and-a-half hour procedure to treat a heart condition.

Despite the treatment, Mr Blair said he will still seek a third term as Prime Minister and, if elected, serve it in full.

But the 51-year-old went on to say he would then stand down and not seek a fourth term in Downing Street.

Mr Blair’s irregular heart beat recurred in August after some of the most difficult weeks of his Premiership.

In TV interviews tonight he played down the seriousness of the condition and stressed his desire to finish his work in No10.

“It’s not particularly alarming but it’s something that you should get fixed. It’s a routine procedure,” he said.

“I’ve had it for the last couple of months and it’s not impeded me doing my work and feeling fine, but it is as well to get it done.”

However, an announcement that he and wife Cherie had bought a house in London’s exclusive Connaught Square added to speculation that Mr Blair might not last a full third term.

The dramatic news inevitably raised the issue of whether and how power might be handed to Gordon Brown.

Former Health Secretary Alan Milburn has been seen as a potential challenger following his recent return to the Cabinet.

Asked about the Chancellor’s future, Mr Blair praised Mr Brown but stopped short of anointing him.

“I have always said I think Gordon Brown would make a superb prime minister of the country. I really do,” he said.

“And I’m not saying what can happen in time to come.

“I am simply saying I want to take the party into the election. I think the party wants me to take the party into the election, and if you stand you have to stand for the full term.”

Details of how the eventual handover would take place were still to be worked out, he added.

A spokesman for Gordon Brown said: “The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived in Washington this evening for the G7 meeting and the annual meeting of the IMF, but his thoughts will be with the Prime Minister throughout the weekend and this evening he sent Tony a personal message of support.”

Tory leader Michael Howard said: “I am sorry to hear about the Prime Minister’s ill health. I wish him well and a speedy recovery.”

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy added: “I wish the Prime Minister all the best for his treatment.”

Mr Blair will be sedated during the procedure, called a catheter ablation, to treat the condition he first suffered last year.

Downing Street refused to say where it would be performed or when Mr Blair had again become ill.

The PM will spend tomorrow night in hospital, and rest over the weekend before returning to “normal duties” on Monday and continuing with a visit to Africa on Tuesday, a spokesman said.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will be in charge while Mr Blair is treated, he confirmed.