<p><br /> Gordon Brown appeared to issue a thinly veiled swipe at Tony Blair as he hit out at politicians who fail to keep promises to step down from office after two terms.<br /> </p><p><br /> The former prime minister grinned as he delivered the verdict during his first substantial Parliamentary appearance since quitting as Labour leader in May.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Brown's fury at his predecessor's decision not to step down for him ahead of the 2005 general election has been documented in a number of high-profile Labour memoirs.<br /> </p><p><br /> Earlier, he appeared to seize an unexpected chance to make clear his own view during a two-hour evidence session to the international development select committee.<br /> </p><p><br /> It came as Tory MP Pauline Latham challenged him over what action he had taken over African leaders who served more than the two terms they promised.<br /> </p><p><br /> "People make it clear, as I have, to some of these leaders that if they say something and then are not in a position to deliver it then their authority is affected by that," he said.<br /> </p><p><br /> "But I think it is very difficult for us to impose a rule on African countries that we do not apply ourselves," a smiling Mr Brown told the committee.<br /> </p><p><br /> He did not refer directly to Mr Blair - citing instead the example of Michael Bloomberg who had proved an excellent mayor of New York despite serving beyond his self-imposed two-term limit.<br /> </p><p><br /> A spokeswoman for Mr Brown later denied that he had delivered a swipe at Mr Blair.<br /> </p><p><br /> She said: "There was no reference or attack on Tony Blair at all."<br /> </p>
