Brown dismisses election job claim

Tension between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair reignited today when the Chancellor dismissed claims he had been offered a key role in Labour's election campaign.

Mr Blair flies to Addis Ababa today, for a threeday trip which will include chairing a meeting of his Commission for Africa in the Ethiopian capital. He left behind orders to soothe relations with Mr Brown

But Mr Brown hit back at reports he was to chair daily election press conferences, and that his aides had been invited to planning meetings.

The peace offering wasdesigned to end warring in the party sparked by Mr Blair's statement last week that he intends to serve a full third term.

Treasury sources, however, blamed Blairites for trying to spin a peace deal that didn't exist.

A spokesman for the Mr Brown said the suggestion was "totally incorrect".

"Gordon Brown has in fact already agreed with John Prescott and Tony Blair he will be touring the country in the election campaign but he will attend any major economic press conferences," he said. Asked if aides would attend planning meetings, the spokesman said; " I don't know anything about that."