'Blair made quit decision before Iraq'

Tony Blair wanted to quit as Prime Minister just months before the Iraq war, the diaries of spin doctor Alastair Campbell have claimed.

Mr Campbell told a Sunday newspaper that Mr Blair wanted to announce his decision in 2002 but he advised the PM that he would become a "lame duck" premier.

However, Mr Campbell revealed that he was not "totally opposed" to the ex-premier's idea, saying: "We had been going through a lot of crap".

The former communications director goes on to say: "What you get as the book goes on is Tony caring less about what people say about him."

In September 2004, Mr Blair eventually set a limit to his time in Downing Street - announcing he would serve just one more term months before securing a historic third General Election win.

Mr Campbell claims Mr Blair knew Iraq could put his future at risk, saying: "I had doubts about the impact of military action on Tony's future. I said to him, 'Look, if, when all this is done, you are history before your time, is it really worth it?'"

He added: "And he said 'It's always worth doing what you think is right. America has been attacked. It's important they don't think they're going to stand up to this on their own'.

"He knew from the word go that there would be some who would want to portray him as Bush's poodle. He was just prepared to live with that."

Mr Campbell's diaries also reveal "secret" dinners between Princess Diana and Mr Blair in an "ordinary house" when he was leader of the opposition.

"It was just extraordinary to see her in this ordinary house. We had an amazing dinner. She made me a cup of tea," he said.

He said he thought the late princess "really felt she was part of the whole new Britain" and that Mr Blair considered her "very political" but not in a party sense.

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