I agree that Blair was wrong to say he would stand down before the next election, everyone wants to know when. I think the reason he did it was because he thought more people would vote for him if they thought he wasn't going to stay in office for long (he may have thought Brits were tired of him). Nevertheless, he was wrong to say it. I don't think 2005 was a landslide: Labour was only 3% ahead of the conservatives, but you're right, it was his third victory, and most MPs are in the Commons because he put them there.

I think it unlikely that it will be a Thatcher, Major situation for Labour. It's all different now, e.g. when John Major won, the polls were still good for the Tories, and they'd recently "won" a great local election. It was still Kneil Kinnock who fought the 1992 election, he'd already lost 1987 and wasn't greatly popular. Now, David Cameron (Tory leader) is very popular, did well at the last local election and the last poll gave him a 9% lead (Con 40%, Lab 31% e.t.c.), and is beating Brown is polls. Cameron is very similar to how Blair was before 1997, and I think people miss that era.

You're right about PM's exits. At the moment the media are saying Blair is trying to leave a mark on the country so he isn't forgotten. What better way than leaving with a bang?

You are very well informed about UK politics. Does it get much coverage over there?