Thursday, September 7 2006 11:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: In a week that is proving to be a long time in politics for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, more junior members all erstwhile Blair loyalists have resigned from the Government and have asked him to quit forthwith.

It all began Monday when the controversial letter by 17 Labour MPs was sent to 10 Downing Street. By Wednesday, the government was suffering from Labour pains that threatened to sully Blair's record tenure in office.

On Wednesday, Downing Street sources openly blamed Chancellor Gordon Brown and his aides for orchestrating the current clamour for Blair announcing when he would ride into the political sunset. Brown is widely seen as Blair's successor.

On Wednesday afternoon, Blair and Brownboth neighbours in Downing Street - had what is said to be an 'acrimonious' exchange. But Brown's silence throughout the last three days of Labour turmoil has been deafening.

For the last three days, events have overtaken words by the minute and nobody including senior Labour ministers are prepared to wager how this phase will all end. The only person who had the standing and credibility to support Blair is Brown, who is not speaking, for now.

Amid the floating of dates when Blair will quit and conspiracy theories in the corridors of power in Westminster village, BBC reported Wednesday night Blair was expected to outline his plans of leaving office today (Sept 7, 2006).

By the end of Wednesday, in all eight Labour MPs had quit the government, including the junior Defence minister, Tom Watson, who pre-empted his dismissal by sending his resignation letter to Blair.

The other seven were: Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole, David Wright and Iain Wright - all private parliamentary secretaries (PPS). In a joint statement, four of the group said Blair had "not ended the uncertainty over when you intend to leave office, which is damaging the government and the party".

Iain Wright, PPS in the department of health, and a handpicked replacement for the safe seat of Hartlepool formerly held by Peter Mandelson, said he believed that the party and the government could not renew itself in office without urgently renewing the leadership".

Meanwhile, bookies slashed the odds on Blair leaving his post by the end of this month's Labour party conference from 16/1 to 7/1. Bookmakers reported a surge in bets on who would take over from him.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes spokesman Robin Hutchinson said, "The odds are rapidly being overtaken by events, and we are having to react accordingly. It's the only show in town as far as the punters are concerned. We went up with 16/1 and they bit our hands off, and we've been forced to go 7/1. How long that lasts is anyone's guess".

Another bookmaker company, William Hill, cut the odds on the prime minister leaving this year from 5/1 to 9/4. The odds on him leaving next year lengthened during Wednesday from 1/7 to 1/3 favourite.

William Hill is offering 16/1 that Blair will step down in 2008, 40/1 in 2009 and 66/1 in 2010 or later. The prime minister is also 14/1 favourite to stay on long enough to beat Margaret Thatcher's 11-year spell.

Gordon Brown is still the 1/5 favourite with William Hill to succeed Blair as the Labour leader.