The latest chapter in the saga of whether Gordon Brown will take over from Tony Blair has a new twist with claims that Clare Short will run as his deputy in any leadership contest.

Both the chancellor and Labour Party chairman yesterday told journalists that the prime minister's job was not something he was "interested" in.

That did not stop a "Blair ally" telling the Independent: "With Gordon letting it be known he is opposed to top-up fees, Clare going on the record about them...it looks like they've got a real operation underway."