MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Britain: Primer Minister to announce quit date next week

Ten years on: Key voters who helped put Tony Blair in power have seen their standard of living rise more slowly than the economy has grown

Tony Blair will make a “definitive” statement next week on his plans to leave No 10 - as June 30 emerged as the likely date for the hand-over to his successor.

Speaking on GMTV in an interview to mark his 10th anniversary in office, the Prime Minister said: "I will make my position clear next week. I will say something definitive then." He also heaped praise on Chancellor Gordon Brown - his expected successor - saying that he would make "a great prime minister". "One of the things I very much hope will be part of the legacy of the Government is the strongest economy in the Western world which he has been responsible for," he said. "I have always said about him that he would make a great prime minister and I believe that." Mr Blair is finally expected to endorse Mr Brown as his successor next week, amid signs that no other member of the Cabinet is now prepared to mount a bid for the leadership. His comments came as it emerged that Mr Brown could take over at No 10 on June 30 after winning support at an electoral college attended by delegates from across the country. A projected timetable is being distributed among MPs, officials and trade union leaders laying down the exact process of electing Mr Blair's successor. Approximately 48 days after Mr Blair resigns, an electoral college will be held, almost certainly in London, attended by delegates from unions and other affiliated organisations, constituency Labour parties, and MPs and MEPs. Union officials and other Labour Party figures are now working on the assumption that the college will be held on Saturday June 30, although it is possible it could be held on Sunday July 1. Mr Blair is widely expected to resign on May 9 or 10 following this week's elections to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and English councils, taking the process of naming his successor to the last week in June.