| Blair describes a 'maddening' Brown |
By: Rebecca Hubbard
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Posted: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 9:38 am
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According to extracts from former PM Tony Blair's memoirs, Gordon Brown could be "maddening" and have "zero" emotional intelligence.
Blair also added however that Brown could be an "immense source of strength" but after backing away from further reforms, Labour lost power. He also writes about his "anguish" over the Iraq War, despite writing that he still does not regret his decision to invade in 2003.
It was also written that Blair used drink as a relaxation prop, yet the use was not "excessive".
The memoirs focus on Blair's time spent in Downing Street and took three years to write.
The book is the first time Mr Blair has revealed the inner workings of his relationship with Mr Brown whilst they worked together as prime minister and chancellor respectively.
Nick Robinson, BBC political editor, has said that the memoirs in fact show that things were much worse between the two than had first been expected.
Robsinson said that Mr Brown was being blamed by Mr Blair for starting the cash-for-honours row, due to a disagreement over pensions policy. Blair also apparently could not fire Brown because he believed that "let loose" he could possible lead a left-wing rebellion.
Mr Blair describes Mr Brown, who succeeded him in 2007, as a "strange guy" with his role as prime minister "never going to work", despite it being "well nigh impossible" to stop him taking over. |
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