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Leaked memos: Ed Balls denies plot to oust Blair Leaked memos: Ed Balls denies plot to oust Blair
(about 1 hour later)
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said it is "not true" that he and Gordon Brown plotted to speed up Tony Blair's exit from office after the 2005 election. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has hit back over leaked memos detailing efforts by Gordon Brown and key allies to speed up Tony Blair's departure from office.
Mr Balls said it was "not true" to suggest he and Mr Brown plotted to remove the then PM from power.
Mr Blair said in 2004 he would not seek a fourth term as PM and Mr Brown was widely expected to succeed him.Mr Blair said in 2004 he would not seek a fourth term as PM and Mr Brown was widely expected to succeed him.
But personal papers belonging to Mr Balls, >and obtained by the Telegraph, suggest the then chancellor put pressure on Mr Blair to go earlier. Details of negotiations in personal papers belonging to Mr Balls have been leaked to >the Telegraph.
Mr Balls said it was a difficult period but there was no "nasty edge" to talks.
'Brutal' renewal'Brutal' renewal
The Daily Telegraph has obtained more than 30 memos belonging to Mr Balls, then one of Mr Brown's closest advisers. The newspaper has obtained more than 30 memos belonging to Mr Balls, then one of Mr Brown's closest advisers.
It also names current Labour leader Mr Miliband and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander as being involved in "Project Volvo" - an attempt by his allies to rebrand Mr Brown.It also names current Labour leader Mr Miliband and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander as being involved in "Project Volvo" - an attempt by his allies to rebrand Mr Brown.
It was named after the car they believed voters most associated with Mr Brown - in contrast, they described his rival David Cameron as a "sports car".It was named after the car they believed voters most associated with Mr Brown - in contrast, they described his rival David Cameron as a "sports car".
The documents are believed to have disappeared from the Department for Education - Mr Balls' former department - during last year's general election. The Cabinet Office is looking into whether there were any "breaches of document security within government".The documents are believed to have disappeared from the Department for Education - Mr Balls' former department - during last year's general election. The Cabinet Office is looking into whether there were any "breaches of document security within government".
They disclose details of secret meetings, opinion polls on Mr Blair's policies and attempts to rebrand Mr Brown's image. They also show Mr Brown's supporters met on 21 July 2005 - the day of attempted terrorist attacks on London.They disclose details of secret meetings, opinion polls on Mr Blair's policies and attempts to rebrand Mr Brown's image. They also show Mr Brown's supporters met on 21 July 2005 - the day of attempted terrorist attacks on London.
In one document, Mr Miliband is listed as being responsible for Gordon Brown's future "policy", and in another, Mr Brown writes that "if we are to renew Labour, we will have to be as rigorous and as brutal as we were in the creation of New Labour".In one document, Mr Miliband is listed as being responsible for Gordon Brown's future "policy", and in another, Mr Brown writes that "if we are to renew Labour, we will have to be as rigorous and as brutal as we were in the creation of New Labour".
In the latter, the then chancellor also criticises Mr Blair's 2005 Labour conference speech, saying "all his talk" of Labour dominating the centre ground "is not about re-establishing Labour, but a self-promotion about his exceptionalism".
The papers also include letters exchanged between Mr Blair and Mr Brown, which show them haggling over the terms of a handover of No 10.The papers also include letters exchanged between Mr Blair and Mr Brown, which show them haggling over the terms of a handover of No 10.
Despite Mr Blair having said he wanted to serve a full third term, one document, sent to him by Mr Brown, shows the chancellor sought to bring that departure forward.Despite Mr Blair having said he wanted to serve a full third term, one document, sent to him by Mr Brown, shows the chancellor sought to bring that departure forward.
Mr Brown asks Mr Blair to agree to certain commitments, including: "I will make it clear at the 2006 conference it was my last; call for an immediate leadership election to be resolved by December. Mr Brown asks Mr Blair to agree to certain commitments, including: "I will make it clear at the 2006 conference it was my last; call for an immediate leadership election to be resolved by December."
"I accept that decisions about the party's future beyond 2007 and all public spending decisions after 2007-8 are for you [Mr Brown] to resolve." Another commitment suggested was: "I accept that decisions about the party's future beyond 2007 and all public spending decisions after 2007-8 are for you [Mr Brown] to resolve."
Division 'killing us'Division 'killing us'
Another handwritten note from Mr Brown appears to be a political wish list, including the phrases "control of party appointments" and "public expression of sharing power + management of transition".
In February 2006, in response to Mr Brown's handover requests, Mr Blair wrote to his chancellor: "The division at the top is killing us."In February 2006, in response to Mr Brown's handover requests, Mr Blair wrote to his chancellor: "The division at the top is killing us."
He acknowledges, "You (understandably) want to end the uncertainty by me going now", but says it would be "corrosive" if Mr Brown was seen to be "disloyal" or "too eager to get his hands on the job".He acknowledges, "You (understandably) want to end the uncertainty by me going now", but says it would be "corrosive" if Mr Brown was seen to be "disloyal" or "too eager to get his hands on the job".
Mr Blair says he will agree to the timetable for a handover that Mr Brown requested, but that in return he will need "full help and co-operation" on key reforms to the NHS, schools, welfare and energy.Mr Blair says he will agree to the timetable for a handover that Mr Brown requested, but that in return he will need "full help and co-operation" on key reforms to the NHS, schools, welfare and energy.
And he warns: "Whilst I remain PM, the final decision has to be mine; and that cannot provoke a breakdown. I will try, at all costs, to avoid disagreement, but there can't be stalemate if it happens."And he warns: "Whilst I remain PM, the final decision has to be mine; and that cannot provoke a breakdown. I will try, at all costs, to avoid disagreement, but there can't be stalemate if it happens."
Mr Blair stood down as Labour leader and prime minister in 2007.
On a copy of Mr Blair's letter he passed to Mr Balls, Mr Brown scribbled the words "shallow", "inconsistent" and "muddled".On a copy of Mr Blair's letter he passed to Mr Balls, Mr Brown scribbled the words "shallow", "inconsistent" and "muddled".
The Daily Telegraph ran the story under the headline "Revealed: Ed Balls and the 'brutal' plot to topple Blair".The Daily Telegraph ran the story under the headline "Revealed: Ed Balls and the 'brutal' plot to topple Blair".
Mr Balls said he had no idea how the papers had come to light. Mr Balls said: "The idea that that these documents show there was a plot or an attempt to remove Tony Blair is just not true.
He added: "The idea that that these documents show there was a plot or an attempt to remove Tony Blair is just not true.
"It's not justified either by the documents themselves or by what was actually happening at the time.""It's not justified either by the documents themselves or by what was actually happening at the time."
'Over-hyped'
He insisted there was "no nasty edge" to the communications between Mr Brown and Mr Blair, and that people like him were "trying to hold things together", not widen any divisions.He insisted there was "no nasty edge" to the communications between Mr Brown and Mr Blair, and that people like him were "trying to hold things together", not widen any divisions.
"Gordon Brown and Tony Blair had achieved great things together, but by this period it was hard."Gordon Brown and Tony Blair had achieved great things together, but by this period it was hard.
"The relationship was under stress, there was a lot of pressure. There was difficulty, there were arguments."The relationship was under stress, there was a lot of pressure. There was difficulty, there were arguments.
"I think people will look back and say it could have been done better. I agree with that and there's a lesson there for us as a party.""I think people will look back and say it could have been done better. I agree with that and there's a lesson there for us as a party."
Mr Miliband dismissed the Telegraph story as "an over-hyped version of ancient history".
"Frankly, the era of Blair and Brown is over... and this generation of politicians is not going to repeat the mistakes of Blair and Brown," he added.
Mr Blair eventually ended a long period of speculation over his departure date by standing down in June 2007.Mr Blair eventually ended a long period of speculation over his departure date by standing down in June 2007.