MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Blair 'planning another year as PM'

Tony Blair is planning to stay on as Prime Minister for at least another year, it has been reported.

Mr Blair has asked aides to prepare a busy programme for his return from holidays in September, according to unnamed sources quoted in the Sunday Telegraph and News of the World.

The reports are likely to increase tension with Chancellor Gordon Brown, who is widely believed to be expecting an "orderly handover" in the spring.

And they will anger backbench critics of Mr Blair, who were hoping to secure a timetable for his departure at Labour's annual conference in Manchester next month.

The Telegraph quoted "close colleagues" as saying Mr Blair had returned from his trip to the US this week feeling "rejuvenated" and determined to extend his time at 10 Downing Street by "at least another year".

The paper said he was hoping to use the extra time to push through a fresh round of modernising reforms in health and education.

Meanwhile, the News of the World said the PM had drawn up an action plan with aides stretching through to the end of next year - including legislation to make it easier to deport illegal immigrants and the completion of his plans for independent trust schools and NHS reform.

Both papers quoted an unnamed "close colleague" of Mr Blair as saying that he did not intend this year's summer holiday - expected to start in the coming week - to be his last as Prime Minister.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has made his position clear on this several times and we have nothing to add."