British Prime Minister Tony Blair will not quit after what is set to be his toughest week since coming to power over six years ago, a senior minister in his government said Sunday.
Blair's future is in the balance as he braces for a long-awaited judge's report Wednesday into the role of the government during events leading to the suicide of David Kelly, a British expert on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
The day before, Blair faces a threatened revolt in his own Labour party over his controversial plans on education policy. A rebellion could see him suffer his first defeat in the House of Commons since he took office in 1997.
The British media said Sunday that if he loses Tuesday's parliamentary vote on increasing fees for university students, Blair is likely to face a vote of confidence.
"I think the grounds for resignation of any government minister are firstly dishonour, and secondly clear incompetence at carrying out the job or losing the confidence of your colleagues," Education Secretary Charles Clarke told BBC television.
"I don't think any of those arises in my case and I don't think as far as the prime minister is concerned any of those arise in his case either".
The comments echoed those of Blair himself. Asked by the Observer Sunday newspaper if he would still be prime minister by Friday, Blair replied: "I have every intention of doing that, yes."
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