Blair's future sparks party row
PM's supporters round on 'African coup' remarks
LONDON, England (CNN) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair is recovering and doing paperwork at his country retreat over the weekend after successfully undergoing treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat.
As Blair prepares to leave Tuesday for a scheduled visit to Africa, speculation is mounting about who will succeed him as prime minister after his announcement on Thursday that he will seek a third full term.
Supporters of the favorite -- Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown -- have been warned not to destabilize the Labour Party with damaging speculation over the future of the leadership.
Blair's announcement on his future triggered a fresh wave of reports claiming that he had reneged on a deal earlier this year to stand down in favor of Brown.
But as Blair, 51, recuperated at his official country residence following successful treatment Friday for a heart problem, former Cabinet minister Jack Cunningham -- a Blair loyalist -- dismissed suggestions of a deal.
He insisted that Blair intended to remain in No. 10 Downing Street for a "very substantial further period" if Labour won the next UK general election and warned that speculation over the leadership would simply damage the party's prospects.
"Frankly, it would help if others who have an idea about their own interests in the succession would just shut up and help him to get on with governing the country," Cunningham told BBC radio.
He added that some of Brown's friends "aren't doing him any favors."
With an election expected next year, Blair could still be in power until 2010, when Brown will be 59.
Under the front-page headline "The anger and hurt of Brown", the Labour Party-supporting Guardian newspaper said Saturday that Brown, in Washington for an IMF meeting, was "masking private hurt and bemusement."
"I can't believe he's (Blair) done this," one of Brown's aides told the newspaper. "It's like an African coup. They waited until he was out of the country."
Newspapers said Brown was kept in the dark over both Blair's "full third term" decision and the fact he was about to go into hospital for a heart procedure.
The chancellor was on a British Airways flight to Washington Thursday as news broke in London of the operation, Blair's purchase of a £3.6m ($6.5m) house and his intention to serve another full term as prime minister.
Blair is spending what was described as a quiet weekend without public engagements following his heart treatment. His office says he will go ahead with a trip to Africa Tuesday. A spokesman told Reuters Blair would do some paperwork over the weekend.
A smiling Blair left Downing Street Saturday for his official country residence, Chequers.
 Brown was on his way to the United States when Blair announced his plans for eventual retirement. |  |
Dressed casually in jeans, blue open-necked shirt and blazer, the prime minister grinned broadly and waved at waiting reporters and photographers.
When asked how he was feeling, he simply replied "excellent". Wife Cherie, who accompanied Blair to hospital Friday, was again at her husband's side clutching a bottle of water as they left for the country.
Blair had returned to his home Friday following a two-and-a-half hour procedure to end an irregular heartbeat looking relaxed and smiling. "I'm absolutely fine," he told reporters.
In an interview Thursday with the British television network ITN, he said: "I'll be back at work on Monday flat out."
Blair also used the interview to confirm that he intended to seek a third term as prime minister, but would step down after completing that term.
"It is my intention to lead the Labour Party into the next election." Blair said, adding that he and his wife Cherie had bought a $6.3 million (£3.5 million) house in central London.
"If elected, and that's the decision of the British people, then I would serve a full term. I do not intend, however, to put myself forward for elections after that."
