Neil Kinnock has said Tony Blair could resign after the EU constitution referendum regardless of the outcome of the poll.

The European commissioner and former Labour leader said his successor could quit if he wins a third term as prime minister and then takes Britain through the ballot.

"It would be human and understandable if in those cirumstances he said 'I'll hang up my boots now'," Kinnock told the BBC yesterday.

His comments followed a series of Sunday newspaper allegations that the Cabinet is deeply split on the wisdom of holding the referendum.