London, Jan. 28: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie has reportedly taken a vow not tospeak to Sarah, the wife of incumbent Premier Gordon Brown, for three years.

According to a News Of The World report, Cherie even scrapped the traditional “handover” summit between incoming and outgoing prime ministers’ wives when Gordon Brown took over at Number 10.

One Downing Street aide told us: “It feels like Cherie hates Sarah and we think the knives are being sharpened. The fact that the two women haven’t talked for three years is entirely down to Cherie.”

Publishing insiders predict that if Mrs Blair lets rip against the Browns it will boost her sales, giving Cherie a one million pound payday.

And unlike husband Tony, her book does not have to be vetted by government officials. She was never made to sign the Official Secrets Act or other gagging agreements.

During her years at Number 10, Cherie made no secret of her contempt for Brown.

After Brown’s 2006 Labour Party conference speech, when he declared how much he had enjoyed working with Blair, Cherie was overheard saying: “That’s a lie!”

Her book is due out on September 21, the day before the Labour Party conference. Also out that day are John Prescott’s memoirs of his decade as Deputy PM.

Brown aides are now worried the double book whammy will overshadow the PM’s vital keynote speech as he tries to rally his troops ahead of a possible 2009 election.

A Downing Street aide said: “Prezza knows where the bodies are buried but is constrained by the Official Secrets Act. Cherie’s in a different league, though, and there’s nothing we can do about her book. It’s a nightmare.” (ANI)