Attack by Blair aide opens Labour divide

FURTHER divisions opened up in Labour today as one of Tony Blair's former aides launched a withering attack on Gordon Brown.

Philip Collins, who is close to Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, accused the Prime Minister of abandoning bold reforms to the Conservatives.

Radical plans to boost literacy in schools, decentralise power and make big public services more responsive had been surrendered, he argued.

Under Mr Brown the Government was "behaving like an opposition" by allowing Tory leader David Cameron to hijack Labour ideas and campaign from the centre.

"So it is that Labour now finds itself just to the left of sensible on everything," claimed Mr Collins.

He accused Mr Brown's close Cabinet ally Ed Balls, the Children's Secretary, of taking on extra powers over school dinners while losing his ground on key educational reforms.

Mr Collins, who was Mr Blair's speechwriter, wrote in the Times that the Prime Minister was more interested in wrongfooting the Tories than the rights and wrongs of political ideas - a claim that will anger Mr Brown's admirers.