Article about Brown's 'psychological flaws' followed spin doctor's session with journalist

Alastair Campbell has revealed his part in the claim that Gordon Brown had "psychological flaws", which soured relations between the then chancellor and Tony Blair.

And he revealed that Mr Blair said the observation was serious because of the "brutal truth" it told about Mr Brown.

Mr Campbell has long been suspected of being the anonymous source who made the comment to journalist Andrew Rawnsley in 1998, though he has never confirmed that he was involved.

In an extract from his diaries Power and the People, Mr Campbell admits he briefed Rawnsley in "heavy" terms about the friction between the Blair and Brown camps just days before the article appeared.

Tensions were high between 10 and 11 Downing Street in January 1998 over press claims that Mr Blair had reneged on a pact with Mr Brown over who should become Labour leader following the death of John Smith.

Mr Campbell recorded that Mr Blair's wife Cherie said of Mr Brown: "He is a sad, sad man. He will never, ever get over it. The truth is if there had been a contest he would have lost, and he knows it." And he added: "She was right."

Campbell recorded Mr Blair's annoyance when he was told about the story: "He said re Rawnsley, if you are going to do a briefing as heavy as that, you really must discuss it with me in advance. You cannot have this kind of stuff running around."

Mr Campbell wrote: "TB said the problem with 'psychological flaws' was its brutal truth, which is why it hurt him so much."

Mr Brown's aide Sue Nye said Mr Brown believed the slur had been authorised by Mr Blair "and it was therefore war … Sue said the 'psychological flaw' headline was like a bullet".