BBC presenter Jeremy Paxman has dismissed John Major's vision of a Britain of warm beer, district nurses on bicycles and cricket on the village green as "b-----ks".
The BBC2 Newsnight anchorman was equally scathing about Tony Blair's plans to reform the House of Lords, describing them as a chance for the "new Labour aristocracy" to get "their snouts in the trough".
Mr Paxman, known for his caustic interviewing technique, also said he had a "non relationship" with the BBC's Director General John Birt - who was said to have had the presenter in mind when he expressed disapproval of "sneering interviewers".
His candid comments, in which he described election campaigns as "parades of half truths", were made in an interview with New Statesman magazine.
Mr Paxman said he was, resigned to the fact that he will not be presenting the BBC's election, night coverage, but confined to a "little pen" at the side of the studio.
"David Dimbleby presents it. It is part of the constitution of this country that all major events have to be presented by a Dimbleby. You can quote me on that," he said.
He said he did not like Mr Birt's description of "sneering interviewers", adding that he hardly knew the man.
Mr Paxman later issued a statement through the BBC press office apologising for any offence his remarks might have caused.
"I am sorry that a couple of light hearted quips intended off the record have been taken out of context. I am sorry if anyone is offended," he said.