Tony Blair is being lined up for a role as a Middle East peace envoy when he leaves office, it emerged last night.

The Prime Minister is being mentioned as a possible envoy for the Quartet group of peacemakers: the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

He is believed to be keenly interested in the role and has talked to President Bush about it. The White House and the State Department spoke glowingly about Mr Blair’s credentials yesterday, although Downing Street declined to comment.

James Wolfensohn, a former president of the World Bank, stepped down in April as international Middle East envoy for the Quartet.

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A White House spokesman said: “Obviously Prime Minister Blair has been very active and deeply involved in Middle East peace issues throughout his prime ministership.”

He added: “It would not surprise me if they talked about what Prime Minister Blair would like to do after the end of his term, but we don’t have anything to announce today.”

David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State, the State Department’s leading diplomat for the Middle East, is in London and met Mr Blair this week.

Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, voiced support for Mr Blair playing a role. “Officials in the Prime Minister’s office are aware of the idea and Prime Minister Olmert is very supportive of Prime Minister Blair and of his continuing involvement in the Middle East and the peace process,” an Israeli government spokesman said.

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