Granita (restaurant)

Granita was a restaurant in the Islington area of London. It has a certain prominence in British politics, as in late May 1994 it was the setting for a rumoured "deal" between the then shadow Home Secretary Tony Blair and the then shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown.

Related Topics:
Islington - London - British politics - Deal - Shadow - Home Secretary - Tony Blair - Chancellor of the Exchequer - Gordon Brown

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It is alleged that, over dinner in this post-modern restaurant, Gordon Brown agreed to support Tony Blair's leadership bid for the Labour Party, following the death on 12 May of John Smith. In turn, it is alleged that Tony Blair would stand down after two terms and make way for Gordon Brown to assume leadership.

Related Topics:
Post-modern - Labour Party - John Smith

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In the leadership contest of June 1994, Tony Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party and led them to victory in the British General Election of 1997 and 2001.

Related Topics:
June - 1994 - British General Election of 1997 - 2001

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Since then, however, Tony Blair stood and won a third term as Prime Minister. British media regularly report stories of a rift between Tony Blair and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. In public, Tony Blair denies that such a deal took place, while Gordon Brown refuses to comment on it.

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In 2003, Channel 4 broadcast a dramatisation of the dinner on British Television. In June 2003 the Guardian newspaper obtained a copy of a memo that appears to confirm the truth of a pact between Blair and Brown.http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,,971669,00.html

Related Topics:
2003 - Channel 4 - British Television - Guardian newspaper

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Granita, located at 127 Upper Street, subsequently closed down. A different restaurant is now on the premises.

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