MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Hain backs Brown to succeed Blair

Another senior Cabinet minister has joined the war of words over whether Chancellor Gordon Brown will be Tony Blair's successor as Prime Minister.

Staunch Blairite, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, branded the latest attack on Mr Brown by former Home Secretary Charles Clarke "extraordinary".

Far from being the "deluded control freak" Mr Clarke called him, Mr Brown was "the most able figure" in the Labour Party, said Mr Hain.

The Northern Ireland Secretary called Gordon Brown a towering figure of the present generation of politicians and said he thought he would become the next Labour leader.

Mr Hain said: "Charles' comments are pretty extraordinary, but I believe Gordon Brown will be the next Prime Minister.

"I think he's the most able figure in the Labour Party, and with Tony Blair, he is the towering figure of this generation of politicians of all parties."

Speaking on Inside Politics on BBC Radio Ulster he added: "I've been equally supportive of Tony Blair as Prime Minister and I've been one of the most loyal Cabinet ministers to him, not least for his work in Northern Ireland."

Earlier this summer Mr Hain was reported to have been working behind the scenes to secure the deputy leadership of the Labour Party and with it a strong chance of becoming Deputy Prime Minister when Mr Blair stands down and takes John Prescott with him.

However Mr Hain insisted he did not have an understanding with Mr Brown and was not on a joint ticket for leadership with him. "No, there are no joint tickets and I have not declared my intentions on that matter, but I do think this is about the most able potential leader, Prime Minister, of this country. I happen to think that is Gordon Brown.

"I haven't always agreed with him, I've had the odd run-in with him over the last 15 years, but I do think he is the best leader. I have supported loyally the Prime Minister Tony Blair, I continue to do so and it is his decision when he steps down in the interests of the country and the party. I think after what is likely to be a contest Gordon will succeed him."

Meantime a poll suggested that Tony Blair is now more unpopular than Margaret Thatcher at the same stage in her premiership.

The Ipsos MORI political monitor found that 66% of people questioned were dissatisfied with Mr Blair's performance as PM, with only 26% satisfied - an overall rating of minus 30.

Mr Brown suffered a 13% drop in his trustworthiness rating since April, far worse than the 2% drop for Mr Blair in the poll carried out for the Sunday Times

The Chancellor remains more trusted than Mr Blair, scoring a net positive rating of +3, against Mr Blair's -31 rating. By comparison, Tory leader David Cameron has a +7 rating, with Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell scoring +15