ADOPTING the maxim that there is no smoke without fire, it is abundantly clear that the friendship between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor is somewhat strained.

Fuelled by media analysis and biographical revelations, their relationship is the political story of the day, and destined to be the political story of the election campaign.

The scale of the animosity, however, is open to interpretation.

When the two men give speeches on the same subject, at the same time, but in two different places, there is talk of intense hostility and rivalry.

On the other hand, it may be a perfect example of unity of purpose and shared values by the two most powerful men in the country.

The onus on Labour's leadership is to convince the public of the latter before their achievements of the past eight years, on which their election campaign will be based, are undermined.

Before the crucial political debate on health, education and Iraq is sidelined, they must act swiftly and decisively to convince us that they have the interests of the nation above their own self-interest in the pursuit of power.

Close friendship is not a pre-requisite of effective government. However, respect and trust are.

The longer the reports of a rift persist, the more difficult it will be to avoid the public perception that there is no longer mutual trust and respect between Mr Blair and Mr Brown.

If they no longer trust each other, it is a lot to ask the British public to place their trust in them.