BOROUGH MP Andrew Miller still has faith in Tony Blair - but understands why seven junior ministers quit in a row over Labour's lead-ership.

The group of MPs resigned to show their disillusionment with the Prime Minister, his foreign policies and Labour's standing in the polls.

Mr Miller said: 'It's a matter of principle. If they have no faith in the current leadership, then they should resign.

'But if they think that will endear them to the future lead-ership then they could be sadly mistaken.'

He added: 'The timing of the Prime Minister's recent announcement (about stepping down) was merely fine-tuning what he's already said.

'He will stand down before the next election and, at that point, there will be a leadership contest. Anything I have been saying to colleagues will not be said in any other form than behind closed doors.

'But I have a very clear idea on the shape of the future lead-ership and have put those points to various serious contenders.

'The Labour Party locally will be engaged in this contest, and will have their own views and might express their views about which way I could go.' Mr Miller said that even though the Prime Minister is behind in the opinion polls and has been attacked by many for his foreign policies including the Iraq war and the Middle East crisis, history would 'prove him right' in his stance on these issues.

He added that Mr Blair, in conjunction with his Chancellor Gordon Brown and the Cabinet, has worked very hard to sustain the British economy.