The Conservatives last night sought to maximise the British government's embarrassment over alleged divisions between the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and his Chancellor, Mr Gordon Brown, despite assurances from the Deputy Prime Minister that stories about tensions amounted to no more than the "froth of politics".
The shadow chancellor, Mr Peter Lilley, said the alleged split would amaze Britain's EU partners.
Mr Lilley said: "There is now a great divide between the Chancellor and the Prime Minister. The bad blood that clearly runs between the Treasury and the Prime Minister's office will come to be a hallmark of this government.
"Less than a year into office Mr Brown has already made a bid for Mr Blair's job. The succession question will haunt Labour. This political duel will dominate every question of policy and decision-making.
"As Britain begins its presidency of the European Union, other member-states will look in amazement and wonderment at the sight of Chancellor and Prime Minister in opposition."
Official spokesmen and ministers were working overtime to avert potential political damage from the reported tensions.
Claims have abounded since the publication of a biography of the Chancellor in which Mr Blair was said to have broken a pact not to stand in a leadership contest.
Mr John Prescott dismissed claims of a Blair-Brown split. The Deputy Prime Minister said that media attention on the matter was "the kind of froth of politics".
Later, 10 Downing Street praised Mr Brown, while attacking "silly and counter-productive" claims about a rift.
Mr Blair's official spokesman said his view was that Mr Brown was "an extremely excellent Chancellor for whom he has immense regard, politically and personally". He insisted that attempts to "unsettle" the close relationship would fail.
The Labour MP for Medway, Mr Bob Marshall-Andrews, yesterday came close to criticising the Prime Minister when he described as "infantile" and "puerile" suggestions that the Chancellor might be psychologically impaired.
Mr Marshall-Andrews, speaking on the BBC Radio 4's PM programme, was questioned about leaks in the newspapers and sourced to Downing Street. He described the leaks as "very depressing", adding: "It is so depressingly infantile to brief against your senior colleagues or any of your colleagues in this way.
"And to start suggesting they are psychologically or mentally impaired is puerile."
He said that about 300 Labour back-benchers were working extremely hard, getting the government's business through.
"We are endlessly lectured on the necessities for good discipline, and in Downing Street you have this sort of playground. It is very bad for the party and is very worrying because, sooner or later, it will wash up on the Prime Minister's door."