The relationship between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown "remains strong", Downing Street has claimed. The prime minister's official spokesman denied fresh claims of a rift between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The spokesman claimed their relationship remained one of the "strengths of the government".The intervention came after Gordon Brown confirmed that the prime minister had twice rejected his request to sit on Labour's National Executive Committee.

"I don't want to be drawn on party matters but equally the relationship between the prime minister and the chancellor remains strong," said the official spokesman.

Blair has instead chosen to appoint two junior ministers - Hazel Blears and Douglas Alexander - instead of the chancellor.

The third seat is occupied by party chairman Ian McCartney, while the prime minister has also decided to chair the party's 2005 general election strategy committee, a role performed by Brown in the two previous elections.

Number 10 also revealed that the two men are set to meet for an informal dinner. But the prime minister's office refused to be drawn on "the menu or the venue".

The latest claims of a rift are said to be being stoked by sources close to the chancellor.

Appearing on the BBC Breakfast programme the chancellor hinted that he had clashed with Blair.

Asked whether he had sought a place on the NEC, he said: "I did, but it's not my decision, it's a decision for Tony Blair, who is the leader of the Labour Party and I've got to accept his decision."I ran the Labour Party general election campaign in 1997 and I was a member of the National Executive Committee at the time. I also ran it in 2001 and wasn't.

"I felt it would be better running the general election campaign from being a member of the National Executive Committee, but I have to say it is a decision not for me - it's a decision for the prime minister.

"I've got plenty of things to do with my time with a very young son."

Number 10 also sought to play down the role of Peter Mandelson. It is rumoured that the former Northern Ireland secretary is in day-to-day contact with Number 10 and is closely involved with regular strategy meetings.

"I don't think that the position has changed," said the official spokesman. "The prime minister does speak to Peter Mandelson from time to time but we do not brief on the detail of those conversations."

The NEC oversees Labour's election campaigning and internal organisation.