GORDON BROWN tried to bind Labour’s newly reopened wounds last night by declaring in a television interview that Tony Blair was his friend and would always be his friend.
A week after Mr Brown was portrayed widely as trying to force an exit date from the Prime Minister, prompting ferocious attacks on his own character and personality, the Chancellor stepped up his efforts to show more of his human side to the public and bring the political doubters onside.
He did so with a tribute to Mr Blair so generous that it may draw ridicule from his critics. Interviewed by Kay Burley on Sky Television, he said: “Tony Blair has been a wonderful leader of the Labour Party and I think, over the 23 years I have known Tony, this has been one of the strongest political relationships in history.
“I think Tony Blair has led the country with a tremendous amount of ability, skill, acumen and sensitivity to what the British people want to see done. Look at his achievements. He has not just won three elections as leader of the Labour Party. These are achievements I think will stand the test of time.”
Asked if Mr Blair was his friend he replied: “Yes he is. He will always be my friend.”
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He pointed out that they started in politics at Westminster in 1983 by sharing an office, but added that friendships have ups and downs. “But even now we talk almost regularly together — two to three times every day. I think people will look back on this political relationship, and the relationship between me and the Prime Minister, and say what’s completely unique is that we have had a chancellor and prime minister working together.”
Mr Brown’s remarks about Mr Blair may cause gales of cynical laughter within No 10, which was furious last week after Mr Brown failed to intervene to stop the mayhem provoked by Mr Blair’s refusal to elaborate on his plans to leave office. They are clear recognition, however, that he realises that the appearance of civil war between himself and the man he hopes to replace is damaging his own chances.
In the interview, to be shown today, Mr Brown also speaks emotionally about the death of his first child, Jennifer Jayne. But as Labour’s leadership front-runner tried to show his softer nature, his only apparent rival for the top job was suggesting that such behaviour came quite naturally to him.
Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, who is continuing to tantalise the media over whether he will stand against Mr Brown, blushed visibly when asked that question after a speech to the Social Market Foundation. Many MPs believe that he is playing a shrewd game: allowing himself to be seen as a serious contender for leader, thus increasing his chances of winning the already crowded deputy contest when it finally takes place.
When asked whether he intended to run for the leadership, Mr Johnson just blushed and smiled. He acknowledged: “Last week was not my party’s finest hour.”
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Fate later brought Mr Johnson and Mr Brown together at the opening of a training centre in South London. They laughed and smiled but said nothing about the thoughts in each other’s minds.