Cherie Blair says Tony Blair would have stepped down as prime minister sooner if he had thought Brown was ready to carry on his slate of domestic reform priorities, the Times of London reported. She says her husband suffered a "crisis of confidence" regarding his decision to aid the United States in its 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Cherie Blair's revelations are contained in an upcoming autobiography, "Speaking for Myself," which is being serialized in the Times.

In an interview with the newspaper, she said Tony Blair would have resigned as prime minister in 2005 had he thought Brown would follow through on Blair's education, healthcare and pension reforms.

"Instead of which," she said, "Tony felt he had no option but to stay on and fight for the things he believed in."