Tidings of joy?
Tis the season to be jolly but facing rebellions at home and accusations of surrender abroad, the occupant of Number Ten could be forgiven for asking "Do they know it's Christmas time at all?"
Last weekend John Prescott publicly attacked Tony Blair's proposed education reforms. Today it's become clear that privately the chancellor's had doubts about the EU rebate deal.
Pointedly the Treasury has consistently refused to give its public blessing to the deal done over the weekend. The chancellor - who was in the United States when the deed was done - has hidden behind the procedural nicety that the EU budget is the responsibility of the Foreign Office and Number Ten.
Why? Because he argued privately - as the Tories now do publicly - that not a penny of the British rebate should have been given up until the French were forced to give up a euro (or more) of their agriculture payments.
Tony Blair rejects that view because he insists it would have led to British isolation. Ah, argued Gordon Brown, why not offer a one-off payment for EU expansion while still refusing to budge on the rebate?
The prime minister argued today, in a curious reversal of roles, that that would have cost the Treasury more. These differences over a deal now done would be a matter for political historians if it were not for the fact that at a difficult political time for the government, the chancellor wants us to know about them.
There's no doubt that after today's news conference, Tony Blair still has it in him to lead. The question is whether the Labour Party wants to follow. No wonder Peter Mandelson warned this morning that New Labour was reaching a moment of decision.
I'm 
Comments
Peter Mandelson's comments have been taken completely out of context. The "point of decision" to which he referred was not a change of leadership at all but rather the party's decision on how to react to David Cameron--either uniting against Cameron, as he said he hoped and believed they would, or becoming absorbed in internal squabbling.
Of course, journalists have by now so carefully honed their skills that they could probably turn a pleasant "good morning" into a call for Mr. Blair's resignation!
What has commenced is a more open season of destabilisation on TB's position. I would hope such a policy is not being orchestrated but I am realistic enough to understand the "politics" behind such issues. As more broadsides are launched at TB, the more the faltering of the MP's will become confident to light their own fuses. There is a point of balance, a fulcrum, which at some point will be fully destabilised by the amount of balistics that damage the target. With the current situation do not expect a quick abdication TB is still a powerful man, with many friends and influences. TB will go before embarrassment forces his hand.