|
|
Translate:
              Book tells of foul-mouthed rows between Brown and Blair
Monday, October 22nd, 2007
Speculation over tensions between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair before this year’s handover of power at 10 Downing Street was reignited today with the publication of a book detailing allegations of foul-mouthed rows between the two men.The book by Blair’s biographer Anthony Seldon names close Brown ally Ed Balls - now Britain’s schools secretary - as a key driving force behind the reported clashes. Serialised in the Mail on Sunday, it claims Blair complained of being treated “like an abused and bullied wife” after one row with Balls about when he would leave No 10. And it alleges that Balls egged Brown on to foment rebellion against the PM following Labour’s poor showing in the 2006 local elections. After Brown failed to trigger open revolt in a radio interview, Balls supposedly told him that he had “bottled it” - something the schools secretary told the Mail on Sunday he “categorically denies”. Seldon’s book, Blair Unbound, draws on interviews with many Blair loyalists, including ex-Cabinet ministers Stephen Byers, Alan Milburn, Tessa Jowell, Patricia Hewitt, Lord Falconer, Charles Clarke and David Blunkett, as well as former aide Baroness Morgan. By contrast, only a handful of Brown allies are named as sources, which will inevitably lead to speculation that it presents a partial view of events. The timing of the serialisation is likely to frustrate Brown, who is trying to haul Labour out of an opinion poll trough following the debacle of the snap election that never was. The book reports supposed arguments between Brown and Blair in which the then chancellor lost his temper over what he saw as attempts to undermine him. After Milburn was put in charge of Labour’s 2005 general election campaign, Brown supposedly shouted: “You’ve appointed that f… Milburn! Is it about cooking the manifesto against me?” And when Blair refused to stop Milburn and Byers speaking out in favour of a Blairite challenger for the succession, the book claims Brown threatened: “If you don’t do what I ask, then there’ll be big trouble.” Seldon also asserts that Blair regretted his reduced majority after the 2005 election because it prevented him from sacking the chancellor. After one row with the Treasury, it is alleged the then PM told aides: “I’m going to take no more shit from over the road, I’m going to do it.” The book claims that Balls regarded Blair as a “moron” and took an increasingly aggressive role in stoking up moves to oust him. Seldon wrote: “His increasingly assertive role at the Treasury struck some as echoing the 1963 film The Servant, in which the butler, played by Dirk Bogarde, progressively takes over as the dominant force from the owner of the house, James Fox.” LONDON http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=29&ContentID=44152 Have Your Say: Book tells of foul-mouthed rows between Brown and Blair Please read our posting guidelines before posting. Alternatively you can discuss this report here. Related News
|
Video: Dennis Kucinich-US Weapons Used To Kill Children Paid For By US Taxpayers Last post by loki @ 10:18 AM Go to Forum
| Latest Topics
Final Proof: Israel is using White Phoshorus in Gaza Last post by loki @ 09:37 AM Gaza medics describe horror of strike which killed 70 members of same family Last post by loki @ 09:27 AM After 19 years, The Truth at Last? Last post by loki @ 09:23 AM Is the IDF Rounding Up Palestinians, Using them as Human Shields And Killing them Last post by loki @ 09:18 AM Video: Rocket fired from Lebanon lands in Nahriya Last post by loki @ 09:04 AM Western, Arab ministers agree UN draft on Gaza truce Last post by loki @ 08:34 AM OK, truthers.... Last post by Unregistered @ 06:53 AM Lancaster University : Unlimited Cheap Energy 5 years ahead of MIT Last post by Unregistered @ 03:51 AM Bush rewards his hired guns Last post by Unregistered @ 02:18 AM  Email This Page To A Friend Latest Headlines
More World News  Archive
|
TOP NEWS DISCUSSIONS |
LATEST NEWS DISCUSSIONS |
|
|
Rallies to protest Gaza bombing Private firm may track all email and calls An Israeli War Crimes Tribunal Bush rewards his hired guns |
Coz commented on: Bush rewards his hired guns All that is needed for evil to succeed, is for good men and women to sit on their ass, and live in denial, or go... Continue Reading & Reply commendatori commented on: Rallies to protest Gaza bombing Hello You guys are a bunch of Hypocrites, since when a nation doenst have the right to defend... Continue Reading & Reply Dan Dare commented on: The Qassam rockets myths Phil (Jan 5th, 2009 at 12:08 am) wrote: “in the military here in the United States we are taught be sure of... Continue Reading & Reply Dan Dare commented on: Private firm may track all email and calls JacquiBoot Smith is a Nazi Bitch who wants to lock everything down under a risk aversive,... Continue Reading & Reply |
|
The views expressed in the RINF news wire and newsletter are the sole responsibility of the author (s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the webmaster. RINF.COM: Breaking News & Alternative Media is Copyleft - Copy & Distribute Freely. News Forum |
Loading ...
