Blair-Brown feud 'not political'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

But the ex-Cabinet minister added that the feud between the twin architects of New Labour should never have been allowed to develop.

Mr Mandelson, who fell out with Mr Brown after backing Mr Blair for the Labour leadership in 1994, has previously admitted there was a "fissure" between the pair.

But he said on Tuesday that it was not ideological and insisted that the Prime Minister was now building on his predecessor's work.

"It was personal and that is where I think it needs to remain - behind us," the European Commissioner said.

"Tony Blair has now left office, he's gone. The other architect of New Labour is taking the project forwards."

Pressed further about the "fissure", Mr Mandelson added: "It shouldn't be exaggerated but nor should it have been allowed to happen and continue as it did."

Commenting on Mr Brown's first speech as Premier to the Labour Party Conference on Monday, Mr Mandelson said he had "taken Tony Blair's big tent and thrown it wide open".

But he challenged the Prime Minister to flesh out how he planned to deliver his vision for Britain.

"We know from his speech yesterday much more clearly what a Gordon Brown-led Government would do, we know the 'what'," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. "As one of the newspapers said today, what he's got to do now is to set out the 'how' and that is, I think, the challenge for him in the coming weeks and months."