Brown says he was not behind plot to oust Blair

TONY Blair last night said he accepted assurances from Gordon Brown that he was not involved in plotting to remove him as prime minister.

Mr Brown yesterday launched a fightback against accusations he was to blame for last week’s turmoil in Britain’s Labour Party, which saw the resignation of eight junior government members and culminated in Mr Blair promising to stand down within 12 months.

In his first broadcast interview since the storm, Mr Brown dismissed suggestions he was behind a confidential letter from Labour MPs calling on Mr Blair to quit, describing the move as “completely ill-advised”.