The prime minister is struggling to convince backbenchers that he is not becoming a liability to the Labour Party, reports today's press.

Although education secretary Charles Clarke tells the Independent that it is "absolutely unimaginable" that Tony Blair would step down after bad local and European election results, the papers take a different line.

"This is a very bad time. Tony is taking a pounding," the Guardian quotes one of his supporters as saying.

The paper also carries a four and a half page profile of Gordon Brown assessing his potential as a future prime minister.

Blair is also having difficulty burying the rumours that he will hand over to his chancellor in the autumn.

One MP is quoted as saying this would fit the timetable of the so-called "Granita agreement" of 10 years ago.

The Times however says that Blair remains "calm at the centre of the storm."

According to the Telegraph, the prime minister is planning a summer relaunch in order to fend off the chancellor.

He plans to make voters a "personal offer" based on better schools and health services in a third term.

Number 10 strategists are reported to have advised Blair that voters will have more selfish motives when they come to vote next year, following years of high public spending.