Agent: Blair to quit at next election

Tony Blair’s will stand down as an MP at the next election, his party agent and close confidant John Burton predicted today.

Mr Burton said the British Prime Minister had not explicitly told him he will quit the Commons along with No 10.

But the Sedgefield constituency Labour party chairman said: “I can’t see him as a backbencher.”

Downing Street yesterday dismissed reports that Mr Blair will quit as an MP at the election saying “it is not an issue he has turned his mind to”.