Petty politics

last updated 8 January 2015

London

Prime Minister Tony Blair was chastized by his own party this week for allowing a feud with his political No. 2 to embarrass the government. In 1994, when he was preparing to run for the leadership of the Labor Party, Blair is believed to have struck a secret deal with his main rival, Gordon Brown. In return for Brown’s support, Blair agreed to serve as prime minister for no more than two terms, and then step down to make way for Brown. Blair is now seeking a third term. According to a new book, Brown (now the chancellor of the exchequer) has told Blair: “There is nothing you could say to me now that I could ever believe.” Labor Party officials told both men this week their squabbling could cost the party the next election, and the pair then publicly denied any disharmony.