UK's Blair dismisses talk of snap poll after he goes

LONDON, Mar 4 (Reuters) British Prime Minister Tony Blair, due to step down later this year, today dismissed talk that his successor would call a snap general election.

Mr Blair, expected to hand over to his presumed heir finance minister Gordon Brown in July, also suggested in a newspaper interview that the brunt of public anger over the Iraq war was focused on him and may dissipate once he has gone.

Mr Blair won a third straight election for his ruling Labour Party in 2005 but disquiet over his decision to back the US-led Iraq war helped to deplete his parliamentary majority.

Referring to the 2005 poll, Mr Blair told The Observer: ''Iraq was a factor then. In a sense, when I go, that goes with me.'' Asked about suggestions his successor would have to call a snap poll to earn his own mandate, Prime Minister Blair said he expected it to be a ''significant time'' before the next general election.

Most political analysts expect the next election in 2009.

Mr Blair had originally said he wanted to serve a full third term but opposition to the Iraq war, disillusionment with his government's efforts to improve the public services and a string of mismanagement scandals fuelled dissent within Labour.

SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR That prompted him to say in 2006 that he would step down by September this year, although he has yet to set a date.

Mr Blair acknowledged his pre-announced departure had caused problems for Labour.

''It wasn't really my desire last year to have a situation where all this uncertainty was created,'' Prime Minster Blair told the paper.

Some parliamentarians are anxious that Brown will become premier without a contest and fear he lacks the charisma to beat Conservative Party leader David Cameron at the next election.

So far, two left-leaning parliamentarians have said they want to challenge Brown but they stand virtually no chance of winning and some lawmakers want a government minister to run.

Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton said on Sunday he wanted to see a heavyweight candidate stand against Brown, although he said he would not be entering the race.

''I think a contest could be a healthy thing in our democracy and certainly could be a healthy thing for our party,'' he told BBC's Sunday AM programme.

Prime Minister Blair said the process of choosing a new leader while in power would be difficult and a ''test of maturity'' for Labour.

He refused to rule out the possibility of the Conservatives winning the next election but urged Labour not to be afraid.

''Now they've (the Conservatives) decided to get competitive, our response should not be fearful. We should say: Right, we're in a fight, so let's see who's got the best policies and agendas. Across a range of issues, we do,'' he said.

The Conservatives are ahead in opinion polls and Cameron rates much higher than Brown as a prospective prime minister.

REUTERS SHB BD1739