Blair reveals 'tensions' with Brown

Blair 'could have gone on longer'

Monday, 19, Nov 2007 12:00

Tony Blair has admitted he had "disagreements or tensions" with Gordon Brown while the chancellor awaited the handover of power.

For the first time, Mr Blair has spoken publicly about the power struggles he endured with his Downing Street neighbour.

In an interview for the BBC, the former prime minister admitted there were "real difficulties" in their relationship.

But Mr Blair insisted the country was ultimately in a stronger position because of Gordon Brown's stewardship of the economy.

For a documentary entitled The Blair Years, the former prime minister indicated he had not been planning to leave No 10 in June, admitting he could have "gone on a little longer."

After winning a third term in 2005, Mr Blair took the unusual step of announcing he would not seek a fourth term – which many commentators argued undermined his authority within the country.

It was originally assumed Mr Blair would lead Labour towards a fourth general election, but after party infighting Mr Blair told the 2006 Labour conference he would be gone within the year.

Mr Blair said: "You know when you're prime minister... you're aware that other people may want to succeed you.

"And I always used to say to people, 'it's not an ignoble ambition'. I mean, why shouldn't he want to be prime minister?"

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Blair said ten years in power was still a "long time".

In his latest book on Tony Blair, political biographer Anthony Seldon reports Mr Brown repeatedly pressured the Labour leader to name his departure date.

Mr Blair now insists there was "no deal" struck over the leadership handover.

He said: "I'm not hiding the fact there were disagreements or tensions over various issues from time to time.

"Of course, that's what you'd expect. But at the same time, I believe we were infinitely stronger as a government because of his presence there, and because of his achievements.

"It's not that I couldn't have gone on for a little longer. I probably could. But the fact is that 10 years is a long time."