In response to, “Nick Wood: Dave is praying that Ed makes it through the night”, Rolandfleming wrote:

Just one historical note: Blair was not muscled out by Brown. Blair, obsessed with his legacy and well aware that all politicians end in some form of defeat or ignominy, contrived a devious solution for his specific goal of never losing an election: namely to set up a fall guy to hand over to before defeat. Having decided his strategy, he masterfully played upon poor Brown’s psychological weaknesses in a protracted game of subtle goading until Brown was consumed with bile and positively chomping at the bit for the leadership – and consequences be damned. Blair had everything in place to deftly step aside at exactly the moment it became quite clear that the tide had turned for both Labour and the Tories, and that the next election could not possibly be won. Thereby, he secured his prized ‘clean’ exit and enjoyed the delicious schadenfreude of watching his successor fail. “The Master”, indeed.