East Lancashire Labour MPs have refused to wade into the argument over whether Prime Minister Tony Blair should name the date of his departure.
It follows stories claiming secret letters to be signed by Labour MPs and calling for Mr Blair to announce when he planned to leave were being drafted.
Greg Pope, MP for Hyndburn, said: "Tony has hinted that he's likely to stand down sometime next year and that seems reasonable to me."
Burnley MP Kitty Ussher said: "The important thing is that it should be resolved internally.
"I would like to see it sorted out smoothly behind the scenes."
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