BBC Political Editor Robin Oakley: Mr Blair wants to bury domestic troubles in order to focus on his mission

In his first interviews since the resignation of his right-hand man Peter Mandelson, the prime minister insisted no rift existed between him and the Chancellor, Gordon Brown.

And he rejected media reports of an attempt led by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to steer the government back towards more left-wing policies.

Mr Blair told the BBC: "New Labour stays and New Labour will always stay.

"Steve Byers has replaced Peter Mandelson, Alan Milburn has come into the Cabinet. You couldn't get two more New Labour people.

"Again, the idea that John Prescott suddenly said he didn't want any more to do with New Labour and all the rest of it. That was based on an interview I have read and I haven't got the faintest idea what you guys are going on about.

"If you look at what John Prescott is doing in his own department, he's the man that's introduced the private sector into partnership with the public sector in areas the Conservatives didn't even dare do."

BBC Political Editor Robin Oakley: "The prime minister has pulled together a strategy"

Before boarding his flight from the holiday resort of the Seychelles for South Africa, the prime minister insisted he stood "shoulder to shoulder" with the chancellor.

He said he was working more closely with Mr Brown than a prime minister had ever done with his chancellor.

The prime minster stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Gordon Brown

He stressed Mr Brown's role in the creation of New Labour and his contribution to the election victory in 1997.

He said: "We have always worked as a team and we always will work as a team.

"I'm not denying this has been a difficult week or two - these things happen.

"The important thing is that the government stays focused on the things that really matter to people - like extra investment in our schools and hospitals and the reforms that go with it, the New Deal that's making such an impact on our communities, falling NHS waiting lists, falling crime, economic stability, driving on with the welfare reform programme."

Tony Blair strongly refutes allegations of party rifts

The prime minister and his advisors have drawn out a strategy for the next few weeks as the government is anxious to get a line drawn under recent events before MPs return to the Commons.

One way Mr Blair will try to remove the image of a civil war within the government is through major policy initiatives from key Cabinet members, such as Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

BBC Political Correspondent John Pienaar: "A new beginning for the party"

Mr Prescott on Wednesday said there were no ideological differences within the government but he admitted the last two weeks had "not been our finest hour".

But attacks on the government had concentrated on personalities rather than substance, which was the main difference with between the Labour administration and the failings of its Tory predecessor.

He said: "Government goes on. It is a damn good government - let's concentrate on substance."

It also appears that Mr Brown met with former Trade Secretary Peter Mandelson in secret talks on Tuesday.

Earlier in the week, a letter dating from the 1994 Labour leadership race from Mr Mandelson urging the chancellor to step aside in favour of Mr Blair in the party leadership contest was published.