Granita (restaurant)
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The Granita was a restaurant in the Islington area of London. It has a certain prominence in British politics as it was the setting for the rumoured "deal" between the shadow Home Secretary Tony Blair and the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown.
It is alleged that over dinner in this post modern restaurant, that Gordon Brown agreed to support Tony Blair's leadership bid for the Labour Party, following the death of John Smith. In turn, it is alleged that Tony Blair would stand down after two terms and make way for Gordon Brown to assume leadership.
In the leadership contest of June 1994, Tony Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party and led them to victory in the British General Election of 1997 and 2001.
Tony Blair has however stated his aim of running for a third term as Prime Minister. British media regularly report stories of a rift between Tony Blair and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. In public, Tony Blair denies that such a deal took place, while Gordon Brown refuses to comment on it.
In 2003, Channel 4 broadcast a dramatisation of the dinner on British Television.
The Granita, located at 127 Upper Street, is now closed for business. The site has become Alaturca Cafe Bistro.