Summary
THE FRAUGHT relationship between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has, for much of the last decade, been not so much an open secret as the central fact of British political life. And characteristically, the mistrust between the two men is central to the extraordinary events surrounding the timing of Mr Blair's departure.
The very precise dates for Mr Blair's resignation given to The Sun today - a resignation announcement on 31 May and a final leaving date of 26 July - are too specific not to be sanctioned at a high level. Yet such a timetable - which was, by all accounts, not cleared with Mr Brown in advance of the leak - would equally obviously be unsatisfactory to the Chancellor. That timetable would mean that the Prime Minister's departure would be delayed until important elections take place in Scotland and Wales. A dismal result in these, quite likely if Mr Blair remains in office, would be a bleak start to a Brown premiership. Mr Brown wants Mr Blair to go sooner rather than later.See the full content of this document
Extract
The Fight to Dictate Pm's Departure
Mr Blair shows no anxiety to oblige him.
Quite the contrary: a departure date set for next summer would allow the Prime Minister to claim a full, historic decade ...See the full content of this document
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