'Replace Milburn with Brown'

Pressure mounted today for Gordon Brown to be put in charge of Labour's faltering election campaign.

There is growing unease at the tactics of election supremo Alan Milburn. MPs say Milburn's team has allowed the Tories to dictate the agenda. There are also complaints that Labour's campaign lacks the punch of those led by Mr Brown, which were much quicker at deflating Tory attacks.

Calls for Mr Brown to be brought back were led by former health secretary Frank Dobson. "The campaign seems to lack Gordon's strategic thinking," he said. His disquiet was echoed by Chris Smith.

According to reports, Mr Blair acknowledges it was an error to bring back Mr Milburn.

In what was seen as an olive branch, the Prime Minister went out of his way at the weekend to sing the praises of the "best Chancellor for 100 years".