Labour big guns star in broadcast

The broadcast shows both men working together

Footage of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown talking politics will dominate Labour's first party election broadcast.

The video, to be aired on Monday, will show the pair talking about modernising Labour and Britain.

Speculation about their relationship has been rife amid claims Mr Blair reneged on a deal to step-aside and let his chancellor become prime minister.

Mr Blair suggested on Wednesday that Mr Brown would remain at the Treasury if Labour won a third term in office.

There had been talk for weeks that the premier could sack the chancellor after the election.

And Mr Brown was reportedly unhappy that Alan Milburn had been given the role as Labour's election supremo.

'Fascinating stuff'

Political aides say the election broadcast shows a series of "frank" chats between the two men.

Labour says only "a tiny fraction" of the exchanges can be used in the four-and-a-half minute broadcast.

Others will be shown on the party's website and in other campaign films.

A party spokesman said: "For anyone interested in politics it is fascinating stuff.

"These are the two most important and powerful people in modern politics talking in a way that most people never see."

'Hidden away'

Labour has denied that Mr Blair is being "hidden away" because of his standing with the electorate.

It followed a newspaper report that his face would not appear on the cover of the party's manifesto, to be launched next week.

On Thursday, the pair launched posters featuring the faces of both Mr Blair and Conservative leader Michael Howard, asking: "Who do you want to run the country?"

Mr Brown appears on another poster with shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin, with the question: "Who do you want to run the economy?"