Why did Tony Blair apply for the job of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds this week?

The 'job' is 'an office of profit under the Crown'. So, strictly, Mr Blair requires the Queen's permission, not Mr Brown's, because she's the boss.

The link's author has stretched the truth for the sake of humour.Blair and Brown are not the best of friends. Brown thinks Blair cheated him out of being Prime Minister.In 1994 Blair and Brown were candidates for leader of the Labour Party.Labour were then in opposition, not power. Brown was Blair's only serious rival. So, to get Brown out of the way, Blair struck a deal whereby Brown would not oppose Blair and in return, if Labour won the next two General Elections, Blair would not serve two full terms before standing down in favour of Brown. Labour did win twice. Did he then stand down in the second term? No. He went on to a third General Election and won yet a third term. Then, not only did he not stand down, he told the world that he would see out the whole of the third term!

You can imagine that Brown felt cheated and would not be appeased forever by being Chancellor of the Exchequer [ finance minister]. He was therefore a dangerous enemy as well as a supposed friend in office. Mr Blair, contrary to earlier statements about serving the whole term, then about serving most of it, has quit after two years (elected May 2005, quit 2007)