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Brown not prickly, says Miliband Brown not prickly, says Miliband
(10 minutes later)
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has denied claims that Gordon Brown is "annoying and prickly", made by former deputy prime minister John Prescott.Foreign Secretary David Miliband has denied claims that Gordon Brown is "annoying and prickly", made by former deputy prime minister John Prescott.
Mr Prescott also writes in his memoirs, serialised by The Sunday Times, that Mr Brown had often sulked silently during meetings when he was chancellor.Mr Prescott also writes in his memoirs, serialised by The Sunday Times, that Mr Brown had often sulked silently during meetings when he was chancellor.
But Mr Miliband told BBC One's Politics Show: "I don't recognise the portrait John Prescott has set out."But Mr Miliband told BBC One's Politics Show: "I don't recognise the portrait John Prescott has set out."
The Tories said Labour was "sinking in a morass of recriminations".The Tories said Labour was "sinking in a morass of recriminations".
Reconciliation 'Volcano'
In his memoirs, Mr Prescott says Mr Brown, when chancellor under Tony Blair, would sulk silently in meetings so often they had to be abandoned, while on other occasions, he could "go off like a bloody volcano".In his memoirs, Mr Prescott says Mr Brown, when chancellor under Tony Blair, would sulk silently in meetings so often they had to be abandoned, while on other occasions, he could "go off like a bloody volcano".
Mr Prescott adds that he brokered "hundreds" of reconciliation sessions and phone calls between Mr Brown and Mr Blair.Mr Prescott adds that he brokered "hundreds" of reconciliation sessions and phone calls between Mr Brown and Mr Blair.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband on claims in John Prescott's book I don't do book reviews David Miliband class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7394642.stm">Prescott dishes dirt
And he claims that the then chancellor kept money back from Tony Blair's "pet" projects in order to give himself more money to play with once he became prime minister.And he claims that the then chancellor kept money back from Tony Blair's "pet" projects in order to give himself more money to play with once he became prime minister.
Mr Blair had also been "scared" of his chancellor, Mr Prescott says.Mr Blair had also been "scared" of his chancellor, Mr Prescott says.
But Mr Miliband told BBC One's The Politics Show: "I don't do book reviews. I work with Gordon Brown most days of the week.But Mr Miliband told BBC One's The Politics Show: "I don't do book reviews. I work with Gordon Brown most days of the week.
"He's someone who's passionate about the [issues]... He does go into detail but that's good... I don't recognise the portrait John Prescott has set out.""He's someone who's passionate about the [issues]... He does go into detail but that's good... I don't recognise the portrait John Prescott has set out."
Cherie Blair is also publishing her memoirs, in which she accuses Mr Brown of "rattling the keys" of Downing Street over her husband's head to try to force him out.Cherie Blair is also publishing her memoirs, in which she accuses Mr Brown of "rattling the keys" of Downing Street over her husband's head to try to force him out.
She claims Mr Blair was prepared to stand down before the 2005 general election if only Mr Brown had been prepared to back his public service reforms.She claims Mr Blair was prepared to stand down before the 2005 general election if only Mr Brown had been prepared to back his public service reforms.
'Inconceivable''Inconceivable'
Meanwhile, Mr Blair's former fund-raiser Lord Levy has repeated his view that Mr Brown must have known about secret loans to Labour ahead of the 2005 general election.Meanwhile, Mr Blair's former fund-raiser Lord Levy has repeated his view that Mr Brown must have known about secret loans to Labour ahead of the 2005 general election.
He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show it was "inconceivable" that Mr Brown, who was overseeing the party's campaign, could not have done so.He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show it was "inconceivable" that Mr Brown, who was overseeing the party's campaign, could not have done so.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband on claims in John Prescott's book
A Downing Street source has said it was always made "categorically clear" without "any equivocation" that Mr Brown had known nothing about the loans.A Downing Street source has said it was always made "categorically clear" without "any equivocation" that Mr Brown had known nothing about the loans.
For the Conservatives, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "We have got a government sinking in a morass of recriminations and name-calling."For the Conservatives, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "We have got a government sinking in a morass of recriminations and name-calling."
Mr Prescott's revelations and Lord Levy's comments come as an opinion poll suggests Labour could lose the seat of Crewe and Nantwich in the forthcoming by-election.Mr Prescott's revelations and Lord Levy's comments come as an opinion poll suggests Labour could lose the seat of Crewe and Nantwich in the forthcoming by-election.
An ICM survey for The Mail on Sunday puts the Tories on 43%, four points ahead of Labour on 39%, with the Liberal Democrats on 16%.An ICM survey for The Mail on Sunday puts the Tories on 43%, four points ahead of Labour on 39%, with the Liberal Democrats on 16%.
According to the newspaper, the figures would turn Labour's 7,078 majority into a Conservative majority of more than 1,000.According to the newspaper, the figures would turn Labour's 7,078 majority into a Conservative majority of more than 1,000.
The by-election follows the death of long-serving MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month.The by-election follows the death of long-serving MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month.
ICM interviewed 1,004 people by telephone in Crewe on May 7 and 8 for its poll.ICM interviewed 1,004 people by telephone in Crewe on May 7 and 8 for its poll.