London: Indicating that he will unveil his departure plans next week, British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday hinted that his long time rival in the Labour Party Gordon Brown is likely to be his successor.
Campaigning for the Scottish parliamentary elections in Edinburgh, Blair told his party supporters, "Within the next few weeks, I won't be the prime minister of this country. In all probability, a Scot will become prime minister of the United Kingdom.”
Earlier speaking on GMTV, Blair, who has long refused to publicly endorse Chancellor Brown as his successor, praised him saying that the Scot would make "a great prime minister".
According to sources, Gordon Brown would take over as Prime Minister either on June 30 or July 1.
In a speech to mark his 10th anniversary in the top job, Blair said he would make his "position clear next week" about when he planned to leave the 10-Downing Street.
He sought to end speculation about the precise timing of his departure by revealing he would "say something definitive" on the subject next week.
Downing Street later hinted that Blair would wait until after the resumption of devolved power in Northern Ireland next Tuesday to make an announcement about his future.
The Prime Minister has been invited to Stormont by the Rev Ian Paisley and Blair's official spokesman said, "Northern Ireland will be a big day and I think everyone recognises that."
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