'Blair to hand over power to Brown within 2 yrs'

"My sense is that there is a new understanding, yes," former work and pensions secretary David Blunkett told BBC television.

"And it is good because anybody with any ounce of understanding of politics knows that when Tony Blair and Gordon Brown work together we are a winner and when they are divided our opponents can divide us and it is as simple as that," Blunkett said. "So good on them.