Blair recovering after heart treatment

Published on Saturday 2 October 2004 11:10

TONY BLAIR was today recovering in Downing Street after undergoing hospital treatment for his recurring heart "flutter".

The Prime Minister was discharged last night from the Hammersmith Hospital, west London, after doctors said the procedure to correct his irregular heartbeat had been successful and that the chances of a recurrence were "very low".

But as he prepared to return to his desk at No 10 on Monday, MPs were still absorbing the implications of his statement that he aimed to serve one more full term and then stand down.

The announcement was intended to head off a fresh bout of speculation about his future in the wake of the news that he needed treatment for his heart problem.

However, the Tories have warned that the next parliament will be totally dominated by the battle for the succession as rivals for the premiership manoeuvre for advantage.

Despite Mr Blair’s hope that there can be an orderly handover, Labour former chancellor Lord Healey has warned that if Mr Blair did try to see out a full term he would be forced out by his own supporters, similar to the way Margaret Thatcher was.

He urged him to stand aside now in favour of the long-term favourite to succeed him, Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Mr Brown, in Washington for the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank, refused to be drawn on Mr Blair’s announcement saying it would be "completely inappropriate" to comment.

The question for the Chancellor will be that if Mr Blair will not go of his own accord, whether he should force the issue, once the General Election is out of the way, by mounting a direct challenge for the leadership.

The changed political mood was heightened by the disclosure that the Prime Minister and his wife Cherie had bought a luxury London home in readiness for the day they are no longer in No 10, adding to the impression that the Blair era was drawing to a close.