Blair-Brown deal

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The Blair-Brown deal, also known as the Granita Pact, is a shorthand term for a widely-held belief in British politics that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown made a gentlemen's agreement after the death of Labour leader John Smith in 1994.[1]

According to several authors,[2][3] Gordon Brown agreed not to stand in the Labour Party leadership election, effectively giving Blair a clear run, and letting him lead the Labour Party in the 1997 general election. In return, Brown would be allowed wide powers over domestic policy. This was apparently confirmed by a copy of a note published in The Guardian in June 2003. The note mentions Blair's commitment to a "fairness agenda" consisting of "social justice, employment opportunities and skills" under a Labour government. [4]

According to a widely-held (but unconfirmed) view, Blair also agreed that if he acceeded to the position of Prime Minister, he would stay in the job for an agreed period of time. He would then resign and hand the job over to Brown.[5]

It is commonly believed that the 'deal' was agreed at the now-defunct Granita restaurant in Islington, London.[6][2][3].

In 2003, columnist Tom Brown told the BBC that Gordon Brown had informed him of the 'deal' the day after it had allegedly been made. Tom Brown said to BBC Radio Scotland:

"I'm in absolutely no doubt there was a deal since Gordon phoned me the morning after it was made and told me about it. But at the same time I also believe that both men left the restaurant with a different version of the deal in their minds. They hadn't actually written it down on paper. Gordon believed Blair would step down about now actually, and Blair believed that he... hadn't committed himself to any timetable."

[7]

Some of Blair's supporters deny such a deal ever existed.[8] A 2007 Dispatches programme entitled "Gordon Brown - Fit For Office?" claimed that Gordon Brown felt betrayed after losing support from Peter Mandelson and other friends and that this lack of support, rather than any deal, made him decide not to run for the leadership.[9][citation needed]

In her autobiography, Cherie Blair claims that the deal took place at a neighbour's home, not at Granita.[10]

[edit] The Deal in fiction

A fictionalised account of the pact is given the 2003 TV play The Deal.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wheeler, Brian. "Profile: Gordon Brown", BBC, 2005-12-05. Retrieved on 2005-12-25. 
  2. ^ a b Peston, Robert (2005). Brown's Britain. London: Short Books, 66-68. ISBN 1904095674.  cited in Smithers, Alan (2005), “Education”, in Seldon, Anthony, The Blair Effect 2001-5, Cambridge University Press, p. 258, ISBN 052186142X, <http://books.google.com/books?id=VY79slzT1aAC&pg=PA258&vq=%22infamous+Granita+meeting%22&dq=blair+brown+granita&as_brr=3&sig=2HdRkw4itkl85YqMgrbe6QNZheE> 
  3. ^ a b Dorey, Peter (2005). Policy Making In Britain: An Introduction. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage Publications, 115. ISBN 0761949046. 
  4. ^ Happold, Tom and Maguire, Kevin. Revealed: Brown and Blair's pact The Guardian, 2003-06-06. Retrieved on 2005-12-25.
  5. ^ "Timeline: Blair vs Brown", BBC, 2006-09-07. Retrieved on 2005-12-25. 
  6. ^ "Timeline: Blair vs Brown", BBC, 2006-09-07. Retrieved on 2005-12-25. 
  7. ^ "Brown and Blair 'did make deal'", BBC, 2003-10-04. Retrieved on 2005-12-25. 
  8. ^ Wheeler, Brian. "Profile: Gordon Brown", BBC, 2005-12-05. Retrieved on 2005-12-25. 
  9. ^ Channel 4 - News - Dispatches - Gordon Brown: Fit For Office?
  10. ^ "Blair 'secretly advising Brown'", BBC News Online, 2008-05-10. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. 
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