Blair to stay on as MP, unless given 'mammoth' job

TRIMDON: British Prime Minister Tony Blair will stay on as a member of parliament unless he is offered a "mammoth" international job after his resignation, his friend and agent said on Thursday.   

"He has had a tremendous relationship with the people of Sedgefield, and of course will continue to do so for as long as he's their member of parliament," said John Burton, referring to Blair's home constituency.   

"That should be for the next two or three years, unless the United Nations or somebody comes up with a really mammoth job," he told reporters shortly before Blair's expected resignation announcement.   

"He's not going to leave to go swanning around the United States doing lecture tours and things. That will come later when he's trying to set up the foundation," he said, referring to an organisation Blair plans to set up.   

Blair confirmed his resignation plans to his ministers on Thursday morning, ahead of the public announcement to be made in Trimdon Labour Club, where he launched his leadership bid for the Labour party in 1994.   

He is widely expected to stand down at the end of June or start of July, and will almost certainly be succeeded by his ally-turned-foe, finance minister Gordon Brown.