Reid will quit Cabinet in summer

Reid will quit Cabinet in summer

John Reid has said he will stand down as home secretary in June "when Tony Blair goes".

Mr Reid had been tipped to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership but he ruled himself out saying there was "no eagerness" for a contest.

Mr Reid threw his weight behind Mr Brown as the next Labour leader.

But he told BBC One's Politics Show he would return to the backbenches rather than serve in a Brown cabinet.

He said he had discussed his position with Mr Brown, saying "Gordon said there was a place for me in his government".

But he said he plans to step down from front line politics once he leaves the Cabinet after "nine jobs in 10 years".

'Natural break'

Mr Reid's announcement means Mr Brown will not face a top level challenge for the Labour leadership when Mr Blair stands down - expected to happen on Thursday.

Mr Reid told The Politics Show: "I intend to stand down from the Cabinet towards the end of June when Tony Blair goes.

"That is a natural break period because if I stay a year and leave then that will be misrepresented.

"Now I've done nine jobs in ten years and I think from my point of view I think it's a good thing to be able to go out to listen, to learn, to discuss, to get back to the grass roots.

"But also from the point of view of an incoming prime minister. I think the new prime minister should have the maximum flexibility. He needs space."

'Good discussion'

Mr Reid replaced Charles Clarke as home secretary in September promising to revamp a department which he said was not "fit for purpose".

A key ally of Tony Blair, he had consistently refused to rule out a bid for the party leadership when Mr Blair stands down.

But after considering his options he said he had decided there was not an "eagerness" in the Labour Party for a contest.

"There's an eagerness for us to come together. And I said last week to unite rather than to fracture.

"And therefore I have decided I will not put myself forward as a candidate for the leadership".

Asked whether he was jumping before he was pushed, Mr Reid said: "I have discussed it with Gordon, I've had a very good discussion with Gordon on a number of these issues.

"He has made plain to me there's a place in his government for me but he understands and he accepts my decision on this.

"I have made plain to him that from the backbenches I will be there to support him, it will not be a case of sniping, it will be a case of sustaining the Labour government and the new prime minister."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6629877.stm