Darling rebuffs Mandelson attacks on Brown

A fierce rebuff to Peter Mandelson's repeated sniping at Gordon Brown has been delivered by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

He said the Chancellor had been fully vindicated on refusing to join the single currency and was right to push the EU into economic reforms. "His judgment was absolutely right," Mr Darling said.

"It's interesting that in June last year, when we published the assessment [on the euro] there were a fair number of

people saying

we should just go for it. You don't see many people now saying we should just join the euro tomorrow."

Mr Darling's comments will be seen as evidence that irritation at the new European commissioner's attacks goes well beyond the Treasury.

In recent days, Mr Mandelson has demanded a date for joiningthe euro and urged Mr Brown to stop "gloating" at Britain's economic success.

The Prime Minister also defended Mr Brown, in an unbroadcast section of an ITV News interview. Tony Blair said: "If he's having a go at Gordon on a date, he's having a go at everyone in the Government".