Rebel Labour MPs were yesterday accused of staging a coup to oust Tony Blair.

Backbenchers say uncertainty about the Prime Minister's future is damaging the Government and they want him to set a date for his departure.

But Blair loyalists have accused them of trying to force him out of office. And they have warned they are playing a "very dangerous game".

Mr Blair has made clear he will stand down before the next election. He has said he will serve a full third term, but has repeatedly refused to say exactly what that means.

But backbenchers say he must now make clear when he plans to go.

A draft letter, thought to have the support of about 50 MPs, says Mr Blair should be given until summer to lay out a clear timetable for the handover of power.

Former Transport Secretary Stephen Byers condemned the plot, telling Sky News: "If we want to have an orderly transition, what we cannot have is the forced removal of Tony Blair as our leader. And for those people who are organising a coup against him, they are playing a very dangerous game and they should stop."

His message was underlined by Home Secretary John Reid, who told the BBC: "Those people who are trying to shove Blair out, change the direction, use the situation to put us back to Old Labour - they are not going to win."

But the attacks have sparked outrage among Brownites.

Mr Brown's key ally, former minister Andrew Smith, told the Press Association: "This is an important and legitimate debate that has to be had about the timetable for an orderly transition following the message which I and others will have got from voters in the campaign on the doorstep."

The Chancellor also underlined his demands for a stable and orderly tansition.

But he said "we don't need outriders dictating the agenda" as everyone wanted an orderly handover, adding that people would be looking to the Prime Minister to organise the transition.

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