LONDON: Cherie Blair was yesterday at the centre of new claims that she said Gordon Brown was talking "rubbish" during his keynote speech.
The allegation began circulating within hours of her denying that she had called the chancellor a liar as he attempted to heal his rift with Tony Blair.
And in an extraordinary intervention yesterday, Peter Mandelson said there had been "a fissure from the word go" between Brown and Blair.
The Trade Commissioner said Brown had never forgiven himself for not challenging Blair as leader 12 years ago. The chancellor "believed he should have succeeded John Smith and he has never fully reconciled himself for not doing so," said Mandelson.
His remarks and the fresh claims about Cherie added to the poisonous atmosphere of infighting at Labour’s conference in Manchester. Allies of Blair dismissed the row over his wife as mischief-making and "garbage" but implicitly conceded that the allegations were flying around because of feuding in the Labour ranks.
It was claimed that while Brown was on his feet on Monday, Cherie walked past the Communication Workers’ Union stall and said with a wave of her arm: "This is all rubbish."
She was then said to have turned to two people near the stall and said: "Anyway, you lot should be supporting Alan Johnson".
Johnson, the Education Secretary, is being urged to stand against the chancellor for the Labour leadership when Blair stands down. The incident is alleged to have happened while Cherie was walking through the conference exhibition hall only moments before she allegedly commented "well, that’s a lie" on hearing Brown on a TV monitor say he felt privileged to have worked with her husband.
Downing Street strenuously deny both allegations and insist that Cherie listened to the speech in a side room. A spokesman said of the alleged remarks: "This is clearly not true."
Supporters of Cherie said it was impossible to believe an allegation that was not backed up by witnesses. "I have no idea why people are claiming it," said one.
"But once you have one false story going around, it becomes open season on others."
Despite the official denial of her "lie" remark, ministers admitted it was the sort of remark Cherie might make in private.
Some seven hours after the incident, Cherie came out to tell reporters: "Honestly guys, I hate to spoil your story but I didn’t say it and I don’t believe it either."
But the Bloomberg news agency producer who said she overheard the comment stood by her story.
Carolin Lotter said Cherie passed her close by and her words could not be mistaken.
"She was walking towards me, coming from the auditorium area, I had to step out of the way to let her pass when I heard her say, ‘Well, that’s a lie’."
There was fury in the Brown camp because it ruined the chancellor’s speech which included praise for the outgoing Blair and a surprisingly humble apology for their feuding.
Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group on Westminster City Council, said: "It’s very unfortunate that after all the effort that Blair and Brown have made to present a united front, that a single quote can undermine that effort.
"It demonstrates that everyone should be careful with what they say no matter who they are."
At the Communication Workers Union stand, union member Amarjite Singh confirmed that Cherie stopped at the stand during Brown’s speech but he said he did not hear her criticise the chancellor. "She was here while Gordon Brown was speaking and she had a chat with me about other things, but not about him," he said.
"I never heard her say anything like that at all."
MP Parmjit Dhanda said: "I saw Cherie yesterday evening and she was doing what she does best - mingling.
"She’s adored by the conference fringe and delegates alike. If she says that she didn’t say it then I for one believe her." – London Evening Standard
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