Tony Blair was sick of Prime Minister's Questions and resisted attempts to get him to overhaul his approach, files have revealed.
Such was the concern over Mr Blair's regular bruising at the hands of then Conservative leader William Hague, his closest aides held a session in February 2000 to thrash out a "fresh approach".
Press secretary Alastair Campbell presented his boss with some suggestions for witty one-liners and put-downs in the months before the brainstorming.
They included dismissing Mr Hague's wisecracks with the retort: "If the Tories want a comedian as a leader, they might as well go for Bernard Manning - though he might not be rightwing enough."
The stand-up, who died in 2007 aged 76, was known for his racist and sexist material. Files released from the National Archives at Kew today show aides feared Mr Blair did not take the weekly joust seriously.
A memo from close aides told Mr Blair: "Although PMQs is a pain in the neck, it is important and worth taking seriously.
"We think you should think of a fresh approach so we can get back on top."
It suggested Mr Blair, now 69, should regard PMQs as a theatrical performance rather than seeing the "political pantomime as if it were a genuine question and answers (sic) session". The aides said the PM should meet with them for 30 minutes each Wednesday to "practice".
Premiers now spend Wednesday mornings locked in PMQs' preparation with their top advisers. But Mr Blair was unconvinced, replying: "You are forgetting that in the past two weeks we have had genuine problems to deal with."
He added: "I don't think we should start panicking, or thinking PMQs is ever going to be other than something to endure. It is the worst forum in which to appear."
Cabinet minister warned over axing hated Section 28
A Cabinet minister warned Tony Blair against advocating any form of sexuality in schools.
It came as his government prepared to scrap a law, Section 28, banning the "promotion" of homosexuality to children.
David Blunkett, then Education Secretary, wrote in 1999: "We must be clear that there can be no proselytising of any form of sexuality in schools."
Section 28 was scrapped in England in 2003.
Kuwait was urged to buy UK artillery
Kuwait was urged to buy the latest UK artillery as payback for Britain supporting the Middle East nation in the Gulf War.
Previously classified records out today show Tony Blair repeatedly lobbied Crown Prince Sheikh Sa'ad in 1998 and 1999.
A No10 memo on one meeting details Blair suggesting AS90 guns be bought.
Mitterrand's 'pallid' skin noted long before his death
A British diplomat raised concerns about the extent of French President Francois Mitterrand's ill-health a decade before it was revealed he was terminal.
Sir Reginald Hibbert noted his "remarkably pallid" skin and breathing issues in 1981. Mr Mitterrand died in 1996 with prostate cancer, an illness he hid.
