Double whammy for Blair

Tony Blair's future is under pressure, the papers say

The future of Tony Blair as prime minister is scrutinised by the papers, as he heads into one of the toughest weeks of his career.

The "double whammy" - as the Daily Telegraph says - of the Commons vote on the Higher Education Bill and the publication of the Hutton Inquiry's report in to the death of government scientist David Kelly, will see Mr Blair under intense stress.

The vote on university top-up fees will be held on Tuesday, followed a day later by the Lord Hutton's report, which Mr Blair will have seen on Tuesday.

Added to this is renewed speculation in some papers about Chancellor Gordon Brown's leadership aspirations.

In a weekend television interview, Mr Brown was asked whether Mr Blair would be prime minister at the next election.

"Should he be? Yes. Will Tony Blair be? That's a matter for him," Mr Brown said.

Weakened in defeat

The Daily Telegraph said the Labour rebels have 85 votes - five more than they need to defeat the education bill.

If defeated, it would be only the fourth time in 100 years that a government has lost a bill at second reading.

"While he would almost certainly survive a subsequent vote of confidence, defeat would severely weaken him," the Daily Telegraph said.

"It is impossible not to overstate the importance of the coming week to the Prime Minister. The stakes could hardly be higher."

Mr Blair was said by the Times to have had a "marathon series of phone calls" on Sunday to rebel MPs, urging them to reconsider their stance ahead of Tuesday's vote.

In its editorial, the Times said "If reason steered politics, the bill would be considered a largely technocratic matter, a logical response to the declining standards of the universities and an emerging international market in higher education.

"Reason does not, alas, always accompany politics. It should at Westminster tomorrow night."

'High-octane environment'

The Daily Mail calls the rebellion over the education vote as "potentially lethal" for Mr Blair.

Linking Mr Brown's comments on leadership, the Daily Mail said: "Against this high-octane environment, the Chancellor's comment took on a greater significance."

The Guardian said Mr Blair was fighting to save his premiership from "the abyss" of tuition fees.

More concessions were expected to be announced on Monday, said the newspaper, and Lord Rooker, the planning minister calling for rebels to be denied ministerial office in a future Brown administration.

Rebels claimed they had 100 in their ranks, the paper said.

The combination of the vote and the Hutton report makes this "the most potentially perilous and unpredictable week of Mr Blair's premiership," the Guardian said.

Warning letters

There has been speculation about whether Mr Blair will be personally criticised in the report, but the Daily Telegraph said he had not received a letter from Lord Hutton warning him of any criticism.

However, ministers, advisors and the way Downing Street will be criticised, the Daily Telegraph said.

The Daily Mail said Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and former chief spin doctor at Downing Street Alastair Campbell had both received letters saying they will be singled out in the Hutton Report.

Mr Campbell resigned as director of communications following his appearance at the Hutton Inquiry.

Last week he was back in Downing Street helping prepare the government's response to report, the Daily Mail said.

Senior BBC figures have also received letters saying they will criticised.

Firing line

In its editorial, the Mail said "any criticism of defence secretary Geoff Hoon, Mr Campbell or any other senior figures in the Government machine is also a condemnation of Mr Blair."

The Independent is more specific about those "in the firing line" from the Hutton report.

At least nine people - "six associated with Tony Blair's government and three from the BBC" - could be under pressure.

Brown's 'energetic' support

The Guardian said Downing Street dismissed reports that Mr Blair would be cleared in the Hutton report as premature.

The Financial Times said the chancellor had reignited the leadership speculation by his comments, but that Downing Street said Mr Brown was giving "energetic" support to Mr Blair in his attempts to avoid a defeat.

"Even if events go well for him (Mr Blair), the sheer tension of the week is bound to raise questions about his long-term plans," the paper said.

It said although no one knows for sure what the Hutton report will say, the "inner workings of some of the country's leading institutions" and the "jobs of numerous important figures in British life" will be in the spotlight.