IS BLAIR GETING READY TO RETIRE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER?

BBC:

Tony Blair has spoken out about the stress of being prime minister in a "day in the life" documentary. Put together by the prime minister's aides and aired on his website, the video claims to provide the public with "a rare glimpse" into Mr Blair's life.

In it he says nothing prepared him for the stress and hard work of the job or being under such constant scrutiny. He adds that he works such long hours that he is probably breaking "some directive or other". Speaking about the demands of his job Mr Blair says that "being leader of the opposition does not prepare you quite adequately for the difficulty of doing the prime minister's job".

"It's completely a different order of stress, challenge, pressure," he says.

BBC political correspondent Jo Coburn says these comments are a "pointed message" to Mr Blair's new rival, David Cameron, who has been the focus of media attention since his election as Conservative leader.

SPECUALTION ALERT: Maybe the BBC is wrong; maybe this isn't a swipe at the young Tory leader, David Cameron. Maybe it's a way for Blair to prepare the public to accept that his impending resignation is for health reasons. And maybe that announcement is coming pretty soon. Stay tuned...