Blair refuses to name date to leave

LONDON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he will not give a timetable for his departure from office at this year's Labor Party Conference.

His stand has angered many in the party, The Telegraph reported.

"This is a recipe for continuing instability," said John McFall, a supporter of Chancellor Gordon Brown. "My impression had been that a private arrangement was being worked out. The fact that is not happening is deeply worrying and makes our political prospects more bleak."

Brown is Blair's presumptive heir as party leader and prime minister.

The Iraq War and Blair's close ties to U.S. President George W. Bush have frayed party unity, the newspaper said. The Labor Party survived the last election with a greatly reduced majority in Parliament.

Blair told Labor members of parliament they should stop "obsessing" about his departure.