is secretly advising Mr. Brown on how to get out of the current mess at a time when his own supporters are inclined to write him off after the party’s rout in the recent local elections. The disclosure by Mr. Blair’s wife, Cherie, in a newspaper interview will embarrass the Brown camp which staged last year’s “palace coup” against Mr. Blair after accusing him of destroying the party.

Ms. Blair told The Times, which is serialising her forthcoming book Speaking for Myself, that contrary to remarks attributed to him by a close friend Mr. Blair believed Mr. Brown could still win the next general election for the party. Recently, Lord Levy, Mr. Blair’s former fund-raiser and tennis partner, sparked a row when he reported him as saying that he did not believe the Labour Party would win the next election under Mr. Brown.

Ms. Blair said: “Lord Levy doesn’t know anything. I know that Tony thinks Gordon could win the election and I know that he has spoken to Gordon about how he could do that. Tony has given Gordon advice.

“He and Gordon talk to each other even now. But I don’t know how often they speak since Tony is abroad so much of the time.”

Ms. Blair’s remarks came as a new poll showed that Tories had increased their lead over Labour with Mr. Brown’s own ratings plummeting to an all-time low. He is said to be even trailing Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. Ms. Blair, who saw her own husband’s rating fluctuate wildly as Prime Minister, sought to play down Mr. Brown’s current difficulties saying: “This is what happens in politics. It’s all up and down.”

Reminded of her own hostility to Mr. Brown when he was “badgering” Mr. Blair to step down and asked whether she was secretly pleased Mr. Brown was in such a mess, Ms. Blair said: “No, because I have been a Labour Party person since I was 16, and even before that, and I know they are the best party for the country and I want to see them win again. I would be delighted to campaign for them.” <<back