A NORTH-EAST MP was at the centre of a political row last night after he wrote exclusively in The Northern Echo that it might be time for Prime Minister Tony Blair to step aside rapidly.

Ashok Kumar was hauled in to explain his article to Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong, but last night he said: "I stand by every word I wrote."

The national media said Dr Kumar's article, which appeared in Mr Blair's local newspaper on Tuesday, was part of a plot by Gordon Brown's supporters to de-stabilise the Prime Minister while he was out of the country.

But last night, the MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "It was all my own work."

Yesterday in Indonesia, Mr Blair's official spokesman was asked if Dr Kumar, Parliamentary Private Secretary to International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, would face disciplinary action. "That is a matter for the Chief Whip," he said.

Dr Kumar then had a "very amicable discussion" with Ms Armstrong, the North West Durham MP, who is in charge of Government discipline. He has known Ms Armstrong since she campaigned with him in the 1991 by-election when he first won the Cleveland seat. Voices were raised, but Dr Kumar emerged still with a job.

"I stand by every word," he said. "I said to her that we haven't done everything right over the loans and peerages issues."

The Echo article was headlined "New Labour - new leader?". In it, Dr Kumar fulsomely praised Mr Blair for transforming Labour and winning over former Conservative seats such as the one Dr Kumar represents.

However, Dr Kumar also said that the Government's popularity was waning, and there had been a decline in the trust the public has in politicians. He said the war in Iraq had played a part in this, and added: "It has not been helped by the recent allegations of improper conduct over finances and peerages."

He concluded: ''If Mr Blair is concerned with securing a lasting and memorable legacy for Britain, then I can think of no better way than to allow a smooth and rapid succession for Mr Brown."

Last night, Dr Kumar said: "The Prime Minister announced before the last election that he will be leaving office in this Parliament.

"I want there to be an agreement between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor as to when that should be and I want them to have that discussion early. That is what I meant by rapid.

"In the meantime, no one should misinterpret anything from my article as me moving from being loyal to this Government, or this Prime Minister."

Dr Kumar's loyalty was tested by the decision to go to war in Iraq. The MP only decided on the day of the vote to back Mr Blair.

Great significance was given yesterday to Dr Kumar's position at the Department for International Development, and some media outlets believed that Mr Benn backed Dr Kumar's call.

However, referring to a left-wing magazine, Mr Benn said last night: "Some time ago, Ashok told me that he had submitted an article to Tribune. He subsequently showed me a copy and I made it clear to him that I did not share his views. Tribune decided not to publish it.

"I was not aware that Ashok had subsequently submitted a revised version of the article to The Northern Echo. The Prime Minister has made it clear that he will decide when to step down and it would be much better if in the meantime we could all get on with the job of Government."

The incident shows the tension over how long the Prime Minister will retain his post. It follows a backbench outburst on Tuesday from Darlington MP Alan Milburn who accused Mr Brown's tax credit policies of entrenching poverty in Britain - seen as an attempt by pro-Blairites to damage the Chancellor's standing.