Peter Mandelson persuaded Tony Blair to promise to make way for Gordon Brown after two terms as PM, according to claims in yesterday's Mail on Sunday by former Mandelson aide Derek Draper.

Draper claims Mandelson told Blair in 1994: "It is too much to expect that Gordon can face up to not being leader this time and never being leader at all. You must tell him you will only serve two terms."

It is thought Mandelson was decisive in ensuring that Brown stood aside to let Blair have a clear run at the Labour leadership after the death of John Smith in May 1994.