Guess what? Blair has given Brown another date for his departure

Shortly before setting off on his Australian and Far Eastern tour, Tony Blair had a long discussion with Gordon Brown about the succession. The Chancellor was extremely clear. ‘Brown wanted a handover date by the end of the year,’ says my source, ‘with Brown coming in around the time of the party conference and Blair going out. It was all to be settled by conference.’

This conversation went into the intricate detail concerning the various constitutional and party mechanisms which need to be brought into play to secure a smooth succession. The role of John Prescott was raised. Brown wants Prescott to stay on as Deputy Prime Minister at least for a short time after the changeover of power, but to step down as deputy party leader. He feels there should be an election for the deputy leadership in parallel with the leadership decision. The Chancellor is insistent that his premiership must mark a complete break with the Blair style of government.