LONDON, Sept 26: British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a joke Tuesday about the tension between his wife and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, following an alleged gaffe by Cherie Blair which has clouded his final party conference in the top job.

At the start of his last-ever speech as prime minister to the Labour Party conference, he was paying tribute and voicing gratitude to everyone — including his family, and Cherie.

Pausing after mentioning her name, he then quipped: “At least I don’t have to worry about her running off with the bloke next door” — Brown, his political rival, who lives at 11 Downing Street.

Relations between Cherie Blair and Brown have long been strained. But the situation was highlighted Monday when, as the chancellor was claiming that it was a “privilege” to work for Blair, Cherie reportedly said, “That’s a lie.”

Blair’s office and Cherie herself denied the comment, cited by the Bloomberg news agency, but the alleged gaffe dominated coverage of the Labour conference and clouded efforts to re-unite the party.

The prime minister’s joke was a clear attempt to make light of the row, and drew laughter and sustained applause, including from a smiling Brown himself.

“I couldn’t resist that,” said Blair, before continuing with his address.—AFP