Gutter politics in Britain: Blair saved Brown from tight spot

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — Former Prime Minister Tony Blair may not always have been Gordon Brown's best friend, but he came to his rescue when his chancellor got stuck in a toilet, diaries published Monday revealed.

The incident happened after the death of Labour leader John Smith in 1994, when the two men were discussing who should succeed him and spearhead a bid to modernize the party and lead it to power.

"TB was clear he should stand because he felt that was the best chance for the party, but GB was not convinced. At one point, GB went to the toilet," said Blair's former spokesman Alastair Campbell.

Recounting the tale in his diaries "The Blair Years," he went on: "Minutes passed and TB was sitting twiddling his thumbs and even wondered if GB had done a runner....