Blow By Blow

May 1994 After the death of Labour leader John Smith, Blair and Brown meet at Granita, a London restaurant. The two potential successors allegedly agree that Brown will stand aside in exchange for Blair's promise to step down halfway through a second term. The next day, Brown bows out of the leadership race.

May 1997 Labour wins a landslide victory in the general election. Blair becomes PM.

Fall 2003 After a second election victory in June 2001, Blair's popularity plummets midterm due to the war in Iraq and allegations that the government "sexed up" intelligence on WMD. In a speech seen by many as an outline of his leadership agenda, Brown urges the Labour Party to return to its core values.

Nov. 2003 At a private dinner, Blair is said to admit that he has lost voters' trust and to tell Brown that he will stand down before the next election.

March 2004 Blair allegedly tells Brown that he will stand down in the fall.

May 2004 Less than a week after Brown and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott are said to discuss the succession in the car park of the Loch Fyne Oyster bar in Argyll, Scotland, Prescott says publicly that "[tectonic] plates appear to be moving" within the party.

Summer 2004 Encouraged by loyalists in the Cabinet, as well as by the Tories' inability to capitalize in local and European elections under new leader Michael Howard, Blair allegedly changes his mind about stepping down. Brown reportedly tells him: "There is nothing that you could ever say to me now that I could ever believe."

Sept. 2004 Blair announces that if Labour wins the election expected this spring, he will serve a full third term and stand down before a potential fourth.

Jan. 2005 The Sunday Telegraph publishes extracts from Brown's Britain by Robert Peston, a journalist with close ties to the Brown camp, which details the Blair-Brown feud and describes their relationship as becoming one of "mutual animosity and contempt." Blair denies Peston's account, describing the book as "tittle-tattle," but Brown does not. Alarmed Labourites confront the pair at a heated meeting, and put pressure on them to quash the fuss. The next day, Brown says, "Of course I trust the Prime Minister."