London, July 30: British Prime Minister Tony Blair made clear today that he fully intends to stay in power, even as he weathers the gravest political crisis in his career. "There's a big job of work to do and my appetite for doing it is undiminished," said Blair at his first Downing Street press conference since the apparent suicide of former UN arms inspector David Kelly.
Blair, who Saturday becomes Britain's longest-serving Labour Prime Minister, was circumspect when asked about a third term, saying simply: "Who the country elects is ultimately a matter for the country." He refused to talk about Kelly's death in detail, pending the outcome of judicial inquiry chaired by Lord Brian Hutton, which is to get underway Friday in London.
"It is important that having announced an inquiry we let it take its course," he said.
Kelly, found dead with a slit wrist a day after he disappeared on July 17, was a key figure in a bitter row between Blair's government and the BBC over claims that downing street "sexed up" the case for war on Iraq.
Blair was first elected in 1997, and re-elected in 2001. He need not call a fresh election before 2006. Bureau Report