Brown takes swipe at Blair and forces No 10 to condemn Saddam execution

Published on Monday 8 January 2007 01:17

Key quote

"Obviously, I will speak my mind, I'll be very frank. The British national interest is what I and my colleagues are about." - GORDON BROWN

Story in full GORDON Brown yesterday moved to announce himself as the pre-eminent figure in British politics, forcing Tony Blair to break his silence on the execution of Saddam Hussein and issuing what amounts to a scathing criticism of the Prime Minister's foreign policy.

With his life-long dream of becoming Prime Minister within reach, Mr Brown displayed growing confidence in a wide-ranging interview, promising to lead a humble, inclusive government and to forego the "trappings" of power.

With Mr Blair's resignation only months away, the Chancellor vividly demonstrated how the balance of power is tipping his way as he effectively bounced the Prime Minister into his first public condemnation of the manner in which Saddam Hussein was executed.

Despite growing domestic and international unease about the taunting of the former Iraqi dictator, Mr Blair adamantly refused to comment on the matter last week, insisting he would make his first public statement later this week.

But yesterday, a few hours after the Chancellor said that the way the execution was handled was "completely unacceptable", Downing Street issued a statement telling how the Prime Minister also believes the manner of execution was "completely wrong".

During his BBC interview, Mr Brown came as close as he ever has to admitting he now expects to be prime minister by this summer, sketching out more of his plans for government and his approach to power.

And, in his boldest challenge yet to Mr Blair's waning authority, Mr Brown tacitly criticised the Prime Minister's relationship with George Bush, the US president, promising to take a much more assertive approach if he enters Downing Street later this year.

Since Mr Blair has promised to quit before September, the only question remaining is over the exact timing. Many Labour MPs believe he will announce his resignation the day after the Scottish Parliament elections in May, but some Blairites believe he will wait until the G8 and European Union summits in June.

Whenever it comes, Mr Brown is all but certain to succeed him. His inner circle is tight-lipped about the detailed agenda he is developing for his first months in office, but Mr Brown yesterday gave a few clues about his plans.

Perhaps the most eagerly watched area will be foreign policy. Mr Blair has been criticised for taking what is seen by opponents as a supine approach to the US and its Republican president. While Mr Brown did not comment directly on Mr Blair's policy yesterday, he implicitly damned Mr Blair by promising a more assertive stance that gives greater priority to Britain's national interest.

"I look forward, if I'm in a new position, to working with George Bush," Mr Brown said.

"Obviously, I will speak my mind, I'll be very frank. The British national interest is what I and my colleagues are about."

The US elects a new president next November, and Mr Brown dropped a significant hint about his sympathies with Mr Bush's Democrat opponents, pointing out that he has worked closely with "all the major figures of the previous US administrations".

Despite some Labour hopes that Mr Brown will revise Britain's policy in Iraq, the Chancellor insisted he still backed the decision to invade, and will follow Mr Blair's approach of transferring power to the Iraqi authorities slowly and gradually.

"Policy will be the policy that we are pursuing now," Mr Brown said. "I believe it is true to say that by the end of the year there may be thousands less [UK troops] in Iraq than there are now."

Brownite insiders say the Chancellor will lead a more humble, "austere" government, giving more power to parliament and the civil service and reducing the power of Downing Street and unelected political advisers. Mr Brown yesterday confirmed those plans, pledging a new constitutional "settlement" for Britain.

"I think we're moving to a new understanding over the next few years, of a more accountable government, a stronger parliamentary democracy, and a more active population," he said.

"We've got to look at the relationship as a whole between the [government] and Parliament, and the people themselves. In doing so, we've got to fashion a new settlement for our times."

DEAFENING SILENCE

30 Dec: Saddam executed. Reports emerge of taunts.

31 Dec: Blair silent on manner of execution.

1 Jan: Blair silent.

2 Jan: Deputy PM John Prescott says manner of execution "deplorable". Blair silent.

3 Jan: Blair silent.

4 Jan: Blair silent.

5 Jan: Blair silent.

6 Jan: Blair silent.

7 Jan: 9am - Brown says manner of execution "completely unacceptable" in TV interview.

1pm - Blair spokesman says PM thinks manner of execution "completely wrong".