Blair adviser Derek Scott dies aged 65

Tony Blair's former economic adviser, who became one of earliest chroniclers of the then Prime Minister's bitter battles with Gordon Brown, has died aged 65.

Derek Scott, who witnessed the feuds between Mr Blair and Mr Brown and revealed that the Chancellor kept his Budgets secret from the Prime Minister, was an important figure in New Labour, returning to the party following a spell in the SDP in the 1980s.

Despite his closeness to Mr Blair, he failed to be selected for a seat at the 1997 election and was instead appointed economic adviser – a post he held until 2003.

Increasingly Eurosceptic, after leaving Downing Street Mr Scott became one of the leading Labour protagonists against Britain's involvement in further EU integration.

He often worked in collaboration with the Labour MP and former minister Gisela Stuart, whom he later married.

He was also a prominent critic of Gordon Brown's suitability to become Prime Minister, predicting before the financial crash some of the future economic problems.