Pressure intensifies on Blair to name retirement date

13 April 2012

Tony Blair is under growing pressure to announce his retirement date, in the wake of new cash for peerages allegations and his defeat over gay adoption.

In the latest blow to Mr Blair's authority, several reports alleged that detectives investigating the honours affair had found that crucial emails were deleted after their investigation began, implying a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence.

• Cash for honours and No10's deleted e-mails

Mr Blair hopes to stay on until July and to announce his departure timetable on 4 May, the day after Scottish and Welsh elections.

But some ministers say he should make an announcement next month that he will step down after the May elections.

A minister allied with Gordon Brown's supporters said: "This would be in Tony and Gordon's interests.

"An announcement in February would take the pressure off the rest of his time in charge."

There seems to be no chance of any of Mr Blair's officials being charged while he is in office.

The police inquiry is now expected to drag on until March and a decision by prosecutors will take "many months", say sources.

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