Cherie's ex-aide blasts 'hypocrite' Abbott

Cherie Blair's former top aide today launched a stinging attack on Diane Abbott for sending her son to a public school, branding her a "complete hypocrite".

Fiona Millar also widened her attack to include middleclass parents who "play the system" to win places at the best state schools in what will be seen as a jibe at the Blairs themselves.

Her comments come ahead of a Channel 4 documentary made by Ms Millar, the partner of the Prime Minister's former director of strategy Alastair Campbell, in which she castigates parents for betraying state education.

Ms Millar, who resigned as Mrs Blair's chief aide at No10 two months ago, sends her three children to state schools and believes the system is being undermined by better-off families who join churches or move house to cream off the best places, depriving struggling schools of talent and support.

Of Ms Abbott, she told a newspaper: "I think she is a complete hypocrite. If you are an MP you have a responsibility to your constituents."

Ms Abbott has defended her choice of a £10,000-a-year school by saying her son James comes first. But Ms Millar said: "Then she should stop being an MP." Her comments contrast with Mr Blair's kinder verdict on Ms Abbott. He told MPs it was unfair to personalise the debate on education.

But Ms Millar's film may be seen as a shot across the Blairs' bows for sending their sons to the highly regarded state-run London Oratory instead of a local school.

Both she and Mr Campbell were said to have been dismayed that the Blairs did not follow their own example of supporting local schools.

In her film, to be shown next year, she interviews parents, teachers and children in state and private schools.

According to Channel 4, she will "confront parents who play the system to get their kids into the best schools".