London, Sep 26 (DPA) The British government dismissed as "totally untrue and rubbish" a report that Cherie Blair, the wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair, accused rival Gordon Brown of "lying" in his speech during the Labour Party conference in Manchester.

According to Bloomberg news agency, which said it was standing by its story, Cherie Blair muttered, "well that's a lie" when she heard Brown say he felt it had been a "privilege to work with and for" the prime minister over the years.

In a statement Monday, Downing Street said Cherie Blair was in the company of four people, including security guards, when she was alleged to have made the remark, but none had "heard her say anything".

Bloomberg has refused to retract the story.