Blair vows to fight for third term

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, February 23, 2004

Blair vows to fight for third term

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair has vowed to run for a third successive term in office after what he described as his "toughest time" over the past months, stressing "I will be putting myself forward."

In an interview with the News of the World newspaper, Blair said he believes he is "stronger than ever" following the publication of the Hutton report which cleared him of any wrongdoing in handling the intelligence over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Blair laughed off suggestions he would leave office in time forhis wife Cherie's 50th birthday in autumn. "I think the notion that you should determine this in relation to Cherie's birthday isone of the most bizarre suggestions I have come across," he said.

"Whatever the problems and pressures this is an immensely enjoyable and fulfilling job and I intend to carry on doing it," he said.

He went on to say, "The times are tougher but I am a tougher person than I was six or seven years ago. You have people kicking lumps out of you, but you can live with it, and I do."

The persistent rumors that the Chancellor Gordon Brown wants the top job have increased in the past few months. But Blair said:"I have made it clear this is a decision in the end for the British people at the next election. They are the ones who decide."

On dealing with rebel MPs within the Labor Party, the prime minister said that "the important thing is for them to reconnect with what is actually happening in their constituencies and the changes the government is making."

"If they think the choice is ever going to be an old-style Labor Party winning an election, that is not going to happen," he said.

He acknowledged that the past few months have come out as his "toughest time" as prime minister.

January saw him narrowly survive a Commons vote on the controversial university tuition fees, which analysts believe lefthim wounded. In the same week the publication of the Hutton reportcleared him of suspected wrongdoings but still led to accusations of a whitewash.

He told the newspaper he was "pleased" with the outcome of the Hutton inquiry. "An allegation that you actually abused the intelligence is about as serious an allegation that could ever be made and I always knew it was untrue," he said.

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