Clarke: There is tension with Gordon and Tony

The relationship between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown is marred by "tensions", a Cabinet minister admitted today.

Education Secretary Charles Clarke, speaking with surprising frankness amid speculation that the Chancellor is stepping up his drive to succeed Mr Blair, said: "Obviously there are tensions from time to time as there always are between Chancellors and Prime Ministers - that happens."

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Clarke claimed there was no "fundamental rift" between the pair. He also yoked Mr Brown firmly to New Labour, calling the Chancellor the "most committed reformer there is in many different areas". These included university funding, he added.

In a revealing slip, Mr Clarke said: "That's been the characteristic of his leadership." Pulled on up on this by interviewer James Naughtie, the Education Secretary recovered, claiming: "I was referring to his leadership of our economic strategy."

It is extremely unusual for any senior minister to admit to difficulties in the relationship between the government's two most powerful figures - even though such tensions are widely understood.