Head-to-head: Blair's handover

Ex-Cabinet ministers Andrew Smith and David Blunkett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme their views on Tony Blair's refusal to give a timetable for leaving No 10. Here is an edited version of what they said:

ANDREW SMITH, FORMER WORK AND PENSIONS SECRETARY

I am disappointed that the prime minister has chosen to put it in these terms and that he won't say more.

And I think there will be widespread concern amongst the public as well as amongst Labour Party members.

First, because I would have thought it's clear to everyone that the debilitating uncertainty over the leadership can't go on - it's bad for the country, bad for the government, bad for the Labour Party, and ultimately bad for Tony Blair himself.

To rebuild trust and confidence with the people, I think he has to be clear about his intentions on the leadership

And second because it would be wrong and very bad to see the arguments for clarity on this as some sort of throwback to Old Labour.

I think that right across the country and wherever in the party people are coming from, and especially I might say on the doorsteps in marginal constituencies like my own, it's very clear that the leadership issue has to be sorted out sooner rather than later.

Legacy

What we need to do is get on with rebuilding the Labour Party for the future, carrying forward economic stability and the battle for social justice and getting ourselves in shape for the very important elections in Wales, Scotland and local authorities next year and, of course, for the general election.

And frankly Tony Blair's legacy - he's been a great leader of the Labour Party, huge achievements - that legacy will best be carried forward by a successful fourth term victory.

But in order to earn that and rebuild trust and confidence with the people, I think he has to be clear about his intentions on the leadership.

I think any reasonable person wants this sorted out in an orderly and dignified way.

The prime minister told MPs back in May that he wanted that orderly transition, that he would give ample time to his successor.

But I have to say it's not at all clear how today's interview in the Times takes us any closer to that goal.

DAVID BLUNKETT, EX-HOME SECRETARY

I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Tony Blair will make clear [at Labour's conference], as he has in The Times, that he will give a plenty of time for a handover, it's going to be a smooth and seamless process and that the new incumbent will have a very clear and prolonged run-up to the next general election.

I'm not entirely sure what discussion Andrew Smith wants the prime minister to have in Manchester at the end of this month because there are only three things he can say.

One is what he's already said, which is I've agreed to go, the electorate knew I was when we were elected for a unique third term, we've got to have a sensible handover.

It's his choice to actually determine in a perfectly civilised way when he stands down

Or you say I'm going to go now, which is what obviously some people want him to say.

Or you say here's a timetable and the minute you say it the whole of the civil service grinds to a standstill, all your power goes and government atrophies in a way that it isn't at the moment despite the discussions that are going on.

My opinion, having been in government for eight-and-a-half years, is the moment a timetable is set, you might as well have announced you are going now.

And Tony has made it clear, he made it clear in May, that he wasn't going to go this autumn, he has merely reiterated that in his interview in the Times.

Moving forward

The second issue that we should be opening up before the handover is a debate on policy. We should use this opportunity to actually put on the table new thinking.

Those who want to go back to the past should just openly say so. Those who want to go forward in different ways, different nuances, should get their ideas forward.

I have not knocked on any doors in August but I have been to a wide range of community meetings and the people I met there have never once raised the prime minister going.

He was elected as prime minister 16 months ago. It's his choice to actually determine in a perfectly civilised way when he stands down.

The idea that the moment the general election was over last year he should have stepped down is quite risible really.

We have got three-and-a-half years before the general election and I am absolutely certain discussions have taken place with very, very senior colleagues ensuring that there will be a lengthy period [after the handover] before that general election date had to be chosen.