Blair-Brown deal
Encyclopedia
The Blair–Brown deal was an alleged gentlemen's agreement
made between the British
politicians Tony Blair
and Gordon Brown
in the summer of 1994. It is widely believed the two met in the now-defunct Granita
restaurant in Islington
, London
, following the death of Labour Party
leader John Smith on 12 May, and Brown agreed, in return for certain promises, that he would stand aside to allow Blair to become leader of the party, and possible future prime minister.
According to several authors, Gordon Brown agreed not to stand in the 1994 Labour Party leadership election
, effectively giving Blair a clear run and allowing him to lead Labour into the next UK general election (which was eventually held in 1997). In return, it was agreed that Brown would be granted wide powers over domestic policy in a Blair administration.
Further, according to a widely-held belief, Blair also agreed that, if he acceded to the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
, he would stay in the job for an unspecified but not indefinite period of time. He would then resign and support Brown to follow him as Labour Party leader and prime minister. The Labour Party does not select its leader by allowing the outgoing leader to choose or name a successor, but anticipation of Blair's strong endorsement contributed to Brown being the inevitable successor.
The existence of the deal was publicly dismissed by Blair, Brown and many of their associates for several years, prompting much speculation as to what, if anything, was agreed. The Guardian
published a written note in June 2003 which, it claimed, outlined the policy areas proposed by Brown that Blair would commit to as part of the deal, namely a "fairness agenda" consisting of "social justice, employment opportunities and skills" under a Labour government. In October 2003, columnist Tom Brown
told the BBC
TV station that Gordon Brown had informed him of the deal the day after it had allegedly been made. Tom Brown said to BBC Radio Scotland
:
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.
In a televised interview by Piers Morgan
in 2010, Brown admitted that he deferred contesting the Labour leadership and that Blair had promised to hand over power to him at a later point, but that the two men later fought bitterly after—from Brown's perspective—Blair failed to keep to his end of the bargain. Brown also stated that the deal had not been made in Granita but had been struck before the men met in the restaurant. In her autobiography, Cherie Blair
claims that the deal took place at a neighbour's home, not at Granita.
An account of the pact between the two politicians was presented in detail in the 2001 book The Rivals: The Intimate Story of a Political Marriage written by BBC journalist James Naughtie
. The relationship between Blair and Brown from the years 1983 to 1994—culminating in an in-depth dramatisation of the Granita meeting—was the focus of a 2003
made-for-television film directed by Stephen Frears
and written by Peter Morgan
, based in part upon Naughtie's book. The film, titled The Deal, starred Michael Sheen
as Tony Blair
and David Morrissey
as Gordon Brown
. A caption in the opening titles (directly inspired—according to Frears—by the identical epigraph at the start of the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
) informed viewers that "much of what follows is true".
Gentlemen's agreement
A gentlemen's agreement is an informal agreement between two or more parties. It may be written, oral, or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or through mutually beneficial etiquette. The essence of a gentlemen's agreement is that it relies upon the honor of the parties...
made between the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
politicians Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
in the summer of 1994. It is widely believed the two met in the now-defunct Granita
Granita (restaurant)
Granita was a restaurant in Islington, London, England. In late May 1994 it was the alleged setting for the "Blair-Brown deal" between the then shadow Home Secretary Tony Blair and the then shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown....
restaurant in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, following the death of Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
leader John Smith on 12 May, and Brown agreed, in return for certain promises, that he would stand aside to allow Blair to become leader of the party, and possible future prime minister.
According to several authors, Gordon Brown agreed not to stand in the 1994 Labour Party leadership election
Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1994
A leadership election was held on 21 July 1994 for the Labour Party in the United Kingdom, after the sudden death of incumbent leader John Smith. The 1994 election would ultimately decide not only Labour's new leader, but also the next Prime Minister...
, effectively giving Blair a clear run and allowing him to lead Labour into the next UK general election (which was eventually held in 1997). In return, it was agreed that Brown would be granted wide powers over domestic policy in a Blair administration.
Further, according to a widely-held belief, Blair also agreed that, if he acceded to the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, he would stay in the job for an unspecified but not indefinite period of time. He would then resign and support Brown to follow him as Labour Party leader and prime minister. The Labour Party does not select its leader by allowing the outgoing leader to choose or name a successor, but anticipation of Blair's strong endorsement contributed to Brown being the inevitable successor.
The existence of the deal was publicly dismissed by Blair, Brown and many of their associates for several years, prompting much speculation as to what, if anything, was agreed. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
published a written note in June 2003 which, it claimed, outlined the policy areas proposed by Brown that Blair would commit to as part of the deal, namely a "fairness agenda" consisting of "social justice, employment opportunities and skills" under a Labour government. In October 2003, columnist Tom Brown
Tom Brown
Tom Brown may refer to:In sports:*Tom Brown , 19th-century baseball player and manager*Tom Brown , former NFL player and MLB outfielder/first baseman...
told the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV station that Gordon Brown had informed him of the deal the day after it had allegedly been made. Tom Brown said to BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
:
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.
A 2007 Dispatches
Dispatches (TV series)
Dispatches is the British television current affairs documentary series on Channel 4, first transmitted in 1987. The programme covers issues about British society, politics, health, religion, international current affairs and the environment, usually featuring a mole in an organisation.-Awards:*...
programme entitled "Gordon Brown — Fit For Office?" claimed that Gordon Brown felt betrayed after losing support from Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...
and other friends and that this lack of support, rather than any deal, made him decide not to run for the leadership.
In a televised interview by Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
in 2010, Brown admitted that he deferred contesting the Labour leadership and that Blair had promised to hand over power to him at a later point, but that the two men later fought bitterly after—from Brown's perspective—Blair failed to keep to his end of the bargain. Brown also stated that the deal had not been made in Granita but had been struck before the men met in the restaurant. In her autobiography, Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair , known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is a British barrister working in the legal system of England and Wales. She is married to the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair; the couple have three sons and one daughter...
claims that the deal took place at a neighbour's home, not at Granita.
An account of the pact between the two politicians was presented in detail in the 2001 book The Rivals: The Intimate Story of a Political Marriage written by BBC journalist James Naughtie
James Naughtie
James Naughtie is a British radio presenter and radio news presenter for the BBC. Since 1994 he has been one of the main presenters of Radio 4's Today programme.- Biography :...
. The relationship between Blair and Brown from the years 1983 to 1994—culminating in an in-depth dramatisation of the Granita meeting—was the focus of a 2003
2003 in television
The year 2003 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2003.For the American TV schedule, see: 2003-04 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:...
made-for-television film directed by Stephen Frears
Stephen Frears
Stephen Arthur Frears is an English film director.-Early life:Frears was born in Leicester, England to Ruth M., a social worker, and Dr Russell E. Frears, a general practitioner and accountant. He did not find out that his mother was Jewish until he was in his late 20s...
and written by Peter Morgan
Peter Morgan
Peter Morgan may refer to:* Peter Morgan , British sports car manufacturer* Peter Morgan , 1978 British Formula Ford champion* Peter Morgan , Wales and British lions international...
, based in part upon Naughtie's book. The film, titled The Deal, starred Michael Sheen
Michael Sheen
Michael Christopher Sheen, OBE , is a Welsh stage and screen actor. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England and made his professional debut opposite Vanessa Redgrave in When She Danced at the Globe Theatre in 1991...
as Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and David Morrissey
David Morrissey
David Mark Morrissey is an English actor and director. Morrissey grew up in the Kensington and Knotty Ash areas of Liverpool, and learned to act at the city's Everyman Youth Theatre. At the age of 18, he was cast in the television series One Summer , which won him recognition throughout the country...
as Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
. A caption in the opening titles (directly inspired—according to Frears—by the identical epigraph at the start of the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a 1969 American Western film directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman...
) informed viewers that "much of what follows is true".