Blair: I will not become a peer

Mr Blair said he and Bill Clinton could be the next Everly Brothers

Tony Blair has said he will not take a seat in the Lords when he steps down as prime minister, describing the upper chamber as "not my scene".

His third term in Downing Street will be the end of his career in frontline politics, he told the Daily Mirror.

Mr Blair also urged Labour not to "go whirling and tumbling" and calling Tory leader David Cameron "a rat".

He also said he would be unlikely to take part in the BBC One entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing.

'Back on tour'

Mr Blair said: "Strictly Come Dancing, yes, my mother-in-law is very big on that. I don't think I should do it."

Continuing the light entertainment theme, he joked about a potential reunion with former US president Bill Clinton when he stepped down.

The Everlys' songs include Bye Bye Love and Long Time Gone

"Oh God, it will be like the Everly Brothers back on tour," Mr Blair said

He said there was "a lot of nonsense talked" about his alleged differences with Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Of the new Conservative leader Mr Blair said Mr Cameron had already betrayed right-wing tendencies in his first week in the job.

"The two decisions he has made are both very much to the right - one on Europe and one on free-for-all admissions in education - which I totally disagree with.

"Let's wait and see what he does. The question is not whether they talk about the centre ground but whether they do it, whether they believe in the NHS and state schools."

Mr Cameron, who says he wants to move away from "punch and judy" politics, used his first Commons question time with Mr Blair to offer help to the prime minister to push through school reform plans, which face a backbench rebellion by Labour MPs.

The issue of admissions - one of the key battles Mr Blair faces with his own MPs - was the one the prime minister found to highlight differences between himself and the Tory leader.

He said in the interview with the Daily Mirror he was "fed up" with talking about his new rival.