Blair to quit "with the crowds wanting more" Memo

Note: The following story is not a spoof

Daily Mirror

A sensational memo leaked to the Mirror reveals how Labour experts are planning Tony Blair's exit from No10.

The retirement blueprint aims to promote the "triumph of Blairism" and allow the PM to quit on a wave of euphoria after 10 years in office.

The secret strategy - drawn up by a small group of loyalists - is well under way.

Mr Blair's "farewell tour" includes plans to appear on Blue Peter, Songs of Praise and Chris Evans' radio show.

The five-page memo, drawn up by a close-knit group around the leader including party guru Philip Gould, suggests the PM is nearer to stepping down than he publicly admits.

It warns: "Time is not an unlimited commodity."

And more concerned with his place in history than the success of his policies, the paper - seen by the Mirror - boasts: "His genuine legacy is not the delivery, important though that is, but the dominance of new Labour ideas...the triumph of Blairism.

"As TB enters his final phase he needs to be focusing way beyond the finishing line, not looking at it.

"He needs to go with the crowds wanting more. He should be the star who won't even play that last encore. In moving towards the end he must focus on the future."

The plan to spin Mr Blair's exit and to promote him as a PM the public will be sad to see the back of is bound to anger Gordon Brown, favourite to succeed him. The document accepts the pair's strained relationship could deteriorate further. Read more

db: Our sources in Westminster told us that it was the intention of Blair loyalists to recruit Leni Riefenstahl to direct an appropriate film tribute - unfortunately she died in 2003.