Prescott adds to Brown's woes

On Saturday it was Cherie talking about what went on behind the scenes during the Blair / Brown era, today it is John Prescott. The result: more bad headlines for Brown.

Interestingly, Prescott comes down heavily on Brown’s side--“I have no doubt that Tony was most to blame. He broke his agreement with Gordon, not once but several times”—but with Blair having left the scene, the criticisms of Brown for being moody and difficult to work with receive top billing. The Sunday Times splashes with the headline, "I told Tony to sack Gordon, says Prescott.”

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Blairs on the trail

Reading through the Cherie interviews in the papers today I was struck by this part of her reply when she was asked if she took any pleasure in Brown’s difficulties:

“I would be delighted to campaign for them.”

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Lost in the shuffle

Peter Hyman’s piece in The Times today is well worth reading if only for this anecdote about one of the Blair reshuffles.

On another occasion an MP was sacked for doing nothing wrong. It was merely that when she was replaced in her current job, someone forgot to pencil her in for a new one. The mistake was only realised once the reshuffle had been

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The Blairites bite back

Turns out the mystery story is a Cherie Blair interview being run jointly by The Sun and The Times. The Sun promises to run the "bomshell" interview on its website at midnight. Andrew Pierce (an expert at nicking rivals' scoops) has the lowdown in the Telegraph - Tony Blair censored his wife's book, he says, so she's letting rip in an interview instead. But the extracts suggest even this is far from bilious. Knowing Cherie, all will have all come at a price - hence the expectation and secrecy. You might say:...

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The week that was

David Cameron answers your questions

Matthew d'Ancona wonders whether Brown has broken the New Labour pact.

Fraser Nelson serves up 'Brownie No.3 - Gordon Brown's "transitional" 10p tax rate', and gives the word from Scotland on Wendy Alexander's call for a referendum.

James Forsyth suggests that Gordon Brown should embrace the fight over the Union, and points out that more than half of Labour voters want the Prime Minister to step down.

And Peter Hoskin tracks Brown's charm offensive, and asks whether Cameron has started to tackle Brownies.

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