The former welfare reform minister, Mr Frank Field, yesterday blamed "spin doctors" for the dispute over his resignation from the British government, saying their activities were like a "cancer" eating at the heart of government.
He called on Mr Blair's new cabinet "enforcer", Dr Jack Cunningham, to take measures to "sort out" the so-called spin doctors, describing them as glorified press officers.
Mr Field has launched bitter attacks on the former Social Security Secretary, Ms Harriet Harman, on the Chancellor, Mr Gordon Brown, and now on spin doctors since his resignation. But he insisted he was still on "friendly" terms with Mr Blair and now wanted to take on a public role supporting his drive for welfare reform.
Downing Street moved yesterday to damp down the controversy after a weekend of attacks by Mr Field and counter-attacks by cabinet ministers, insisting the government was "not engaged in a war of words" with Mr Field.
A spokesman for No 10 made clear that the Prime Minister had wanted Mr Field to remain in the government when he reshuffled his ministerial pack last week. But Mr Blair had not been prepared to concede to Mr Field's request that he be promoted to take over Ms Harman's old Cabinet position.
Meanwhile, a Downing Street aide made clear there was no question of Mr Field being disciplined by the Whips Office for making attacks on ministers, both past and present. This followed reports that party Whips may decide to bar Mr Field from rejoining the Commons Social Security Select Committee - which he chaired for seven years until Labour won the election and he joined the government.
The Tory leader, Mr William Hague, accused government ministers last night of trying to "destroy his reputation".
He said: "Bickering and back-stabbing have become the hallmark of this government. Frank Field is only the latest victim of this distinctly unpleasant and extraordinarily childish approach to government."
In a separate controversy, the government last night faced charges of cronyism - from opponents and from within its own ranks - after a media tycoon was made a minister.
Mr Gus MacDonald (57), chairman of the Scottish Media Group, who is neither an MP nor a peer, is to become Scotland's industry minister. The former shipyard apprentice who rose to lead Scotland's biggest media group, controlling two newspapers and television stations, is expected to be offered a peerage within days to enable him to take up his post.
Scottish Nationalists, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories all criticised the appointment. Labour backbencher Mr Tam Dalyell said he was "saddened" at the appointment's implication that none of Labour's younger MPs in Scotland was considered up to the job.
Meanwhile, Downing Street has defended Mr Blair's use of a Queen's Flight plane to fly to Italy on holiday, saying he would meet the Italian and French prime ministers in the course of the trip and his family had paid their fares. Mr Blair flew to Bologna where he had a meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Mr Romano Prodi, before going to the Tuscan villa where he plans to spend a fortnight with his wife and three children. The Blairs will then move to south-west France where he will meet the French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin.