Tony Blair Turns on Brown

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has told friends that he's "unhappy" with the direction his successor is taking the Labour Party.

According to the Sunday Times of London, Blair feels Prime Minister Gordon Brown's weekend speech at a party conference was "empty," causing him to be "concerned about what new Labour stands for."

"Tony feels Gordon should be defending new Labour," one of Blair's confidantes told the Times. "But the trouble is that when he talks of change, it sounds like he means a break with the past and new Labour."

Other complaints from Blair's friends include Brown’s "lack of vision," with the government appearing to borrow policies from the Conservatives. "Labour has allowed there to be a policy vacuum," said a former cabinet minister. "We’re not just policy lite; we are policy free."

Brown was also attacked by Jonathon Porritt, his environmental adviser, for failing to show enough leadership on tackling climate change. He accused Brown of making “soaring” speeches, but failing to match his words with deeds.