Tony Blair tried to head off a big protest vote in tomorrow’s mid-term elections by confirming that he will set out his departure plans next week and anoint Gordon Brown as his successor. The Chancellor is likely to take over from Mr Blair in the first week in July after a seven-week election campaign in which he may not even be opposed.

On the tenth anniversary of Labour winning power, the Prime Minister used perhaps his warmest ever words about Mr Brown as he was campaigning in Scotland. It was an attempt to win back voters who the polls suggest are deserting Labour for the Scottish Nationalists, and to soften the impact of what are expected to be poor results across the country.

He said: “Within the next few weeks I won’t be Prime Minister of this country. In all probability a Scot will become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. That’s someone who has built one of the strongest economies in the world and who I’ve always said will make a great prime minister.”

Mr Blair is expected to announce his departure plans after the weekly Cabinet meeting on May 10. He said on GMTV: “I will make my position clear next week. I will say something definitive then.”

Once Mr Blair has announced his plans the party will confirm the leadership election timetable. The final election conference is likely to be held in London. The date has yet to be set but will probably be in the first week in July.

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said: “Tony Blair’s time as Prime Minister started with great hope but has ended with disappointment.”

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