The prime minister is facing resignation calls following the death of government weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Glenda Jackson, an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, has insisted that "bullets should be bitten".

As Tony Blair - who is currently visiting Japan - was asked by journalists whether he had "blood on his hands", the MP called on Blair to go.

"We now have the judicial inquiry but I have to say it seems to me that the prime minister should really be reconsidering his position," she said on Saturday.

"I don't see how the government is going to be able to function adequately. This is going to be hanging over the government for the whole period of the judicial inquiry.

"Ministers are responsible for actions and the actions that were engaged in by Number 10, on my opinion, a clear political case must be answered by those who are ultimately responsible."

Blair has appealed for calm until the outcome of a judicial review into Dr Kelly's death reports to government.

But questions about the Kelly affair appear set to dominate a six day tour of the Far East.

Opposition leader Iain Duncan Smith urged the prime minister to take personal control of the crisis by cutting short his trip.

Quizzed on Saturday the prime minister side-stepped questions about the future of defence secretary Geoff Hoon and government spin chief Alastair Campbell.