Ramallah: Tony Blair is saying the bare minimum in defence of his chancellor. Do not be fooled into thinking that this is only because he thinks it is "disrespectful" to talk about these issues whilst in a war-torn region.
Asked whether he believed Gordon Brown had been involved in a coup attempt he could have said "nonsense" or "there's no evidence for that". He chose instead to say, "of course I accept Gordon's assurances".
It is Mr Brown who feels under pressure to utter warm words about Mr Blair and not the other way round.
The prime minister feels free to put his energies into pursuing progress in the Middle East and is visibly cheered by the decision of President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert to meet, and the talk of the creation of a Palestinian government of national unity - which though it would include Hamas - would accept the right of Israel to exist.
P.S. It is rather odd listening to Gordon Brown's interview on a mobile in the military parade ground of the Palestinian president's compound, and typing this on a Blackberry on a bus taking me through the West Bank.
Well well well.
It's long been a joke amongst plyers of my trade that there's one thing worse than the Chancellor refusing to be interviewed by you. That's if he agrees. He is notorious for ignoring the question, sticking relentlessly on message and rarely displaying humanity. This is all the more galling when you know how different he can be in private.
Not so this morning's interview with Andy Marr (watch it here). For years Gordon Brown has been told - by friends and foe alike - that he needs to change his style. Today he did - he was softly spoken, answered questions and spoke almost fluent human.
Just as significant was the change in what he said. The words he used to describe Tony Blair were fulsome rather than grudging. He welcomed rather than resisted internal debate. He signalled rather than concealed some of the policy directions he might pursue as PM.
Most intriguing of all was his acknowledgment that he'd allowed friendships to be the casualties of politics.
Was he driven to this by the ferocious personal criticism he's suffered in recent days? Does he feel liberated by the fact he knows that his time may come very soon? Both I suspect.
"New Gordon" will be treated with incredulity by those who will snort with derision at his denial of knowledge of the attempt to bring Tony Blair down and by those who've been battered and bruised by him over the years. What they will ask now is for proof that he means it and will be able to break the habits of a political lifetime.
