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TONY BLAIR will leave Downing Street before a decision is taken on charges in the cash for honours affair.

The Prime Minister was yesterday said to be preparing to stand down on May 9.

That will trigger a seven-week leadership election process in the Labour Party and a new PM - probably Gordon Brown - will move into 10 Downing Street at the end of June.

Police investigating the alleged exchange of honours for donations to Labour delivered their 216-page report to prosecutors on Friday.

Sources claim there is enough evidence of wrong-doing by key Blair aides to justify criminal charges.

Yesterday, Westminster insiders claimed that Blair would go before the CPS could make a decision.

One Labour MP said: "He is going on May 9 - the day after the Northern Ireland Executive takes power.

"He wants to go out on a high note, not wait around to hear if or when the CPS are going to prosecute any of his friends.

Police are said to be determined that charges should be laid against three people involved in the cash for honours affair. It is believed officers leaked information that their inquiry had uncovered "serious wrongdoing".

The inquiry began after it emerged that secret loans had been made to Labour before the 2005 general election. Some lenders were subsequently nominated for peerages. During the course of the inquiry, four people were questioned under caution.

Blair's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, No.10 aide Ruth Turner and multimillionaire businessman Sir Christopher Evans remain on police bail.

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Good riddence.

[ 22 April 2007: Message edited by: a lonely worker ]