Blair criticizes Brown's leadership in scathing memo

Britain's embattled prime minister, Gordon Brown, suffered another blow yesterday with the publication of a memo in which Tony Blair heaps scorn on his successor's performance in office.

The memo, which the Mail on Sunday newspaper said was written by Blair to colleagues last year, sees the former prime minister accuse Brown's government of "a lamentable confusion of tactics and strategy" and of failing to learn lessons.

Written in the aftermath of Brown's decision not call an early election that might have consolidated his leadership, the dispatch says poor decision-making has made Conservative leader David Cameron look substantial and a viable choice for office.