John Reid has denied reports that Tony Blair almost quit as prime minister due to personal problems earlier this year.

The denial came after Lord Bragg hinted at problems within the prime minister's family.

"Let me be quite specific and straightforward. At no time, at no time, did the prime minister indicate to me or, as far as I am aware, to anyone close to him in supporting him throughout this period that he intended to resign or that he was considering any plans to resign or to pre-announce resignation," he told the BBC.

"I have seen stories to that effect. They are quite frankly and quite straightforwardly not true as far as I am concerned."

Speaking on Tuesday, however, Bragg, a Labour peer whose wife has co-authored a book with Cherie Blair, appeared to contradict the official Number 10 line.

The broadcaster made the claim during an interview with ITV News.

Asked by Alastair Stewart if the prime minister "nearly did go and call it a day", Lord Bragg replied: "I think that he [Blair] was under tremendous stress. He was being hammered in the press. Perhaps he had doubts about some policies, perhaps not.

"But in my view, the real stress was personal and family, which matters most to him. And my guess is that the considerations of his family became very pressing and that was what made him think things over very carefully. That is my guess," he said.

He later added that he was not suggesting matrimonial problems - "I have never seen a couple get on as good as those two".

The claims have been dismissed by Downing Street.

Blair's official spokesman said: "I must admit it took us by surprise as much as anybody else. I don't know why he said it. What Lord Bragg said is a matter for Lord Bragg and not for us."