PM accused of 'grubby deal-making'

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The Prime Minister was accused of "grubby deal-making" by former shadow home secretary David Davis after Chief Whip Geoff Hoon's remark to Keith Vaz was disclosed.

It came in a letter to Mr Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, a day after the Government won a crunch Commons vote on 42-day pre-charge detention for terror suspects.

Mr Vaz, who originally opposed the measure only to back it when Mr Brown was facing defeat in the Commons last month, has previously denied being promised a knighthood.

Mr Hoon's office insisted the comment was a "light-hearted" remark between two old friends. But, asked whether that was the spirit in which the premier had taken it, Mr Brown's spokesman said: "I think it's probably best if the Prime Minister's reaction is kept private."

Mr Brown appeared taken aback earlier when he was challenged about the letter in the Commons by David Cameron.

Its contents had been published on the website of the Daily Telegraph only minutes before the premier stood up for his weekly joust with the Tory leader.

In the letter, Mr Hoon wrote: "Just a quick note to thank you for all your help during the period leading up to last Wednesday's vote. I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded!"

Mr Vaz's support for the 42-day measure was highly sought-after by the Government in the weeks leading up to the vote, amid predictions that Mr Brown would lose.

Amid widespread claims of promises made to potential Labour rebels and Democratic Unionist MPs - whose supporting votes ultimately proved decisive - the Government scraped through with a majority of nine. Some 36 Labour MPs rebelled. The Prime Minister has repeatedly denied doing any backroom deals to get the proposals through.