Blair ducks more questions about departure date

13 April 2012

Prime Minister Tony Blair today ducked questions about how long he planned to remain in power as speculation continued to swirl over his intentions.

On a visit to an employment and social inclusion project in Edinburgh, the question was put to him three times by accompanying reporters.

The first came after the Prime Minister nodded in apparent recognition to one reporter.

When he was then asked how long he intended to stay in office Mr Blair grinned, said in apparent reproach "here was I just..." and opened his arms wide.

When he later left Gracemount High School at the end of his 50-minute visit similar questions were put to him twice and both times he ignored them.

Mr Blair was visiting the school, which is taking part in a pioneering employment programme, on his way north to Balmoral.

In a meeting with selected journalists in Edinburgh on Friday he indicated that he would still be Prime Minister at the time of next May's Scottish Parliament elections.

The aim of his visit to the school was to highlight its work with social inclusion.

Mr Blair is to make a speech on Tuesday in York on employment and social inclusion. The Edinburgh school is taking part in a programme to prepare youngsters for jobs, education or training in a bid to tackle the problem of NEETS - youngsters who leave school neither in education, employment or training.

The year-long JET programme gives them the chance to work towards standard grades at school, vocational qualifications at an employment training centre, and to learn the skills which employers look for.

Mr Blair was accompanied by First Minister Jack McConnell as he went round tables chatting to youngsters, parents and employers involved in the scheme.

Among those he spoke to was Richard Carmichael, 15, from the Gracemount District of Edinburgh.

The youngster, who wants to be a chef, spends Mondays at a retail academy in Edinburgh and Fridays at top restaurateur Martin Wishart's restaurant in Ocean Terminal, Leith.

"I would like to be the next Gordon Ramsay," said the teenager.

"Mr Blair was asking us about where everyone was working, and we were just talking about what the programme is."

Susan Milne, manager of the South Edinburgh Partnership said: "I was escorting Mr Blair around the tables and introducing him to those participating in the programme as pupils, parents, employers and training providers.

"He did seem very interested in the programme."

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