Blair plans end-of-year assessment of Government

Tony Blair is planning to follow today's assessment of Labour's first 100 days in office with an annual report on the performance of the Government next May on the anniversary of the general election.

Denying it would copy the US President's "State of the Nation" address, Downing Street officials said it would take the form of a company chief executive's report to the shareholders, with a check on the 10 main manifesto commitments, including smaller class sizes.

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Peter Mandelson, minister without portfolio, will today highlight the achievements of the Government's first 100 days. Colin Brown