CABINET IN CASH SPLIT.

Byline: ROBERT GIBSON 

RELATIONS between the Cabinet's top trio - Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Blunkett - are at breaking point as they battle it out over pounds 300 billion spending plans.

Both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor were forced to cancel functions last week because the Home Secretary insisted on a succession of meetings to demand more money in tomorrow's comprehensive spending review.

Even Cherie Blair became embroiled in the row as she took Mr Blunkett's side against the Chancellor when she leaked to the press her views that Britain's prisons are dangerously overcrowded.

Mr Brown suspects that Mr Blunkett has been party to a succession of stories last week highlighting the rise in crime to press his case for more cash.

He will announce a pounds 50bn increase in government spending as he outlines the strategy to deliver on public services and win Labour a third term. And the main drive in the spending review is expected to be education and health.

Schools and colleges are expected to be the major winners as Mr Brown announces government spending plans.

The spending review will set a clear course for the next three years as the government bid to fulfil election pledges to improve public services.

He says the announcements will herald the 'boldest reform of education from infants to universities for 50 years'.

CAPTION(S):

UNDER PRESSURE... Tony Blair SUSPICIOUS... Gordon Brown