Now even Hoon piles pressure on Blair

Pressure on Tony Blair to announce his early resignation grew last night as one of his most senior Ministers warned that David Cameron is emerging as a real 'alternative' to Labour.

Europe Minister Geoff Hoon said the party requires 'renewal' - code for leadership change - if it is to challenge the revived Conservative Party.

Mr Hoon, once seen as an ultra-Blairite loyalist, spoke of Labour having not one leader but 'leaders' - suggesting he now regards Chancellor Gordon Brown as joint chief of the party.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hoon said: 'A lot of people think there might be an alternative.

'The Conservative Party looks and feels very different to the one that, say, Michael Howard led.'

His remarks were seen as the first shot in an autumn battle between die-hard Blair allies who want him to continue in office for at least another year and those who want him to announce his plans for departure at the party conference.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has acknowledged that many in the party are uneasy about the lack of a timetable. She said: 'There is a sense of uncertainty on this issue.'

But friends of the Prime Minister said he had returned from his Caribbean break 'fizzing' with enthusiasm - and warned he does not intend next month's meeting in Manchester to be his last.

And yesterday No 10 issued a 'mission statement' from Mr Blair, drawing together the challenges posed by the recent terror plot arrests and the row over immigration.