Brown speech overshadowed by Cherie comments on front-pages

LONDON (AFP) - Alleged comments by Cherie Blair overshadowed Gordon Brown's key speech staking his claim as Britain's next leader on the front-pages of newspapers.

Cherie Blair allegedly said "well, that's a lie" when Chancellor of the Exchequer Brown, Blair's likely successor, told delegates Monday at the Labour Party annual conference that it had been a "privilege" to work with the prime minister, according to a Bloomberg news agency journalist.

As a result, the comment, denied by the prime minister's wife, "wrecked Brown's day", according to The Guardian in its front-page report on the day's events.

The paper quoted an unnamed cabinet minister as saying: "It is tragic. I like both Tony and Gordon, and Cherie is acting out of misplaced loyalty."

The newspaper said in its story that the "row overshadowed Mr Brown's often personal and deliberate collegiate speech in which he set out his vision of a good society".

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph described the comment as one that "torpedoes (the) message of unity from the Chancellor by questioning his sincerity" in a headline on the newspaper's front page.

"Cherie Blair spectacularly derailed Gordon Brown's attempt to bury his differences with

Tony Blair yesterday as he sought to present himself as the prime minister-in-waiting," the newspaper said.

"Her outburst overshadowed one of the most important speeches of Mr Brown's career and exposed the simmering tensions at the top of the party despite efforts to present a united front in public."

The prime minister was forced to publicly vow earlier this month that he would resign within a year after being faced with a rebellion within his own government -- one which many believe Brown was behind, a charge he denies.

The Times ran its report on the comments under the headline: "Brown makes peace with one of the Blairs".

"Labour's carefully crafted efforts to make peace between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were hampered by controversy yesterday," the newspaper's front-page story read.

"Cherie in the Brown stuff" was headline conclusion of The Sun tabloid.

"Cherie Blair landed in a right mess last night when she was forced to deny calling Gordon Brown a liar," it said.

Britain's best-selling daily said that the comment served the role of "scuppering the Big Two's Labour conference truce."

Cherie Blair, a leading human rights lawyer, issued a denial hours after she allegedly made the remarks, telling reporters: "Honestly guys, I hate to spoil your story, but I didn't say it and I don't believe it, either."

Seemingly lost in the midst of it all was what was regarded by many as a very good speech by the chancellor, seeking to cement his role as the front-runner for the prime minister's office once Blair vacates it.

His speech was described as "a thoroughly competent and confident performance, which did more than enough to stake his claim to be the party's next leader and the country's next prime minister" in the view of The Independent's editorial writers.

The Sun agreed, saying Brown turned in a "strong performance", while The Times said the chancellor's speech was "more strategic than Cicero, managed than moving, inclusive than inspiring, but that is what suited the moment."