Blair damages party by clinging to power, say Labour officials

And just as Bush's appearance at the UN remind us all of why he should have resigned when no WMD were found, so Blair's continuing leadership of the Labour Party raises similar questions, especially now that he has stated - against his will - that he will step down by next May.

Party activists continue to insist that it would be better if he went sooner rather than later.

One official said: "Tony should go immediately. He is destroying the party. He is clinging on to the cliff by his fingertips while other people trample all over them."

Blair seems insistent on waiting for "the right moment", apparently oblivious to the fact that no such moment exists. I seriously doubt that he will be able to hold on until next summer, for the simple reason that there is nothing that he can achieve in that time that could not be achieved by his successor. Indeed, his continual presence makes his party less popular with each day that passes.

Harriet Yeo, a trade union representative on the NEC, said demands for the Prime Minister to go soon were not "anti-Tony". She said: "We need clarity. It would be in the best interests of the party if the leadership were settled as soon as practicable, rather than waiting for the so-called right moment."

Geoff Hoon, the minister for Europe, has already broken ranks by saying it might be better for Mr Blair to leave Downing Street before the May elections.

Even discussion of the subject has been banned from the upcoming Labour Conference, although surely the very fact that the subject is being so constantly raised is an indication that is time to go.

Last night a row was brewing over a decision to block an emergency debate over the leadership at the party conference next week in Manchester.

A number of constituencies tabled motions calling for the national executive committee to agree a timetable for Mr Blair to step down early next year.

The conference arrangements committee meeting is believed to have thrown out all the motions. "They decided that the issue of the leadership is not a contemporary issue, and they were ruled out of order," said one Labour campaigner.

Blair has spent the last three years attempting to find a legacy for himself that will remove the stain of Iraq from his public record. He is wasting his time. Iraq will hang around his neck the same way that Suez hangs around the neck of Anthony Eden.

The difference between the two is that the other Tony read the writing on the wall and knew that his mistake was of such magnitude that only his resignation would restore national pride.

This Tony, it seems, will insist on being dragged screaming and kicking from No 10.

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Tags: Blair, resignation, stand down, succession,