In an effort to restore order, Mr Blair rebuked TomWatson, a junior defence minister who was the most senior of the signatories, and summoned Mr Brown to Downing Street for a meeting at 9am on September 6th.
On Tuesday, the prime minister, Defence Secretary Des Browne, Veterans Minister TomWatson and Mr Brown will meet veterans from almost 40 groups and from "as broad a range of experience, service and age as possible", Tony Blair has said.
The revelation that TomWatson, the most notable of the signatories and an acolyte of Mr Brown's, visited the chancellor at home in Fife the day before the letter was faxed to Downing Street is deeply embarrassing for the chancellor.