'We're so lucky to have Gordon'

Gordon Brown is a superb Chancellor. And that's official.

As Mr Brown prepared to deliver his pre- Budget report this afternoon he was jolted by a sudden, unprovoked and fulsome tribute from No10.

"On a day like today we can see how fortunate we are to have such a superb Chancellor," said the Prime Minister's official spokesman. "And how the very close relationship which he has with the Prime Minister is one of the great strengths of this Government."

The lavish praise out of the blue, however, raised more questions than it answered.

Some wanted to know why No10 should raise the topic at all when the recurrent stories of strains between Mr Brown and Mr Blair had actually died down for a few days.

Others recalled the praise of another Premier, Margaret Thatcher, describing her Chancellor, Nigel Lawson, as "unassailable" not long before he went.