No deal: Blair

Downing Street has dismissed claims that Tony Blair has agreed to take over as European Commission president from Romano Prodi.

Press reports claimed the prime minister has been urged by other European leaders to become commission president when Prodi stands down in 2005.

The only condition laid down by Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac is that Blair would have to take Britain into the single currency before then, requiring a referendum as early as next year.

It was also claimed that he would give up Number 10 in the autumn of 2004, clearing the way for chancellor Gordon Brown to make a bid for leadership of the Labour Party.

A Downing Street spokesman gave a forthright response: "The story is complete and utter rubbish."