Highlighting reports of rifts between Number 10 and 11, Michael Howard has said Tony Blair is the "deals on meals" prime minister.

In a week dominated by media reports of the worsening relationship between Blair and Gordon Brown, the Conservative leader sought to highlight the issue in the Commons.

He warned the rift was undermining the government's operation, and called on Blair to deny claims he had promised to step down in favour of his chancellor.

Blair dismissed what he called "tittle tattle" published in books, and sought instead to concentrate on the government's economic record.

Howard repeated claims that the chancellor had said he no longer trusted the prime minister and questioned how Blair had replied.

But the prime minister said the issue "doesn't arise since he didn't say that to me, so the claim in the book happens to be wrong".

He added the debate should focus on issues of "substance and policy".

And he called on Howard to explain how since 1997 there were two million more jobs, in contrast to the million lost when he was employment secretary under Margaret Thatcher.

"I know the party opposite doesn't want to hear that, but that's what they'll be hearing from now until polling day," Blair added.

Responding, Howard said the chancellor had "pointedly refused" to deny the comments attributed to him.

"What the chancellor said couldn't be more damning... why didn't the chancellor deny it yesterday?" he asked.

Tittle Tattle

But Blair said both men had dismissed "what is in books as the tittle tattle it is".

Howard said the chancellor had said "what we all think".

"The prime minister goes on and on about all these things but no one believes a word he says," added the Tory chief.

"The prime minister says he doesn't do deals over his job.

"But he did a deal over his job over dinner at Granita, he did a deal over dinner at Admiralty House.

"He is the deals on meals prime minister. No wonder the chancellor isn't a happy eater."

Blair said he had already dealt with the issue "and I have no intention of going back over it again".

Relationship

Later Edward Leigh questioned the prime minister further on how his relationship with the chancellor was affecting the ability of the government to function properly.