Lord 'sorry' over wrecker comments

Lord Rooker has apologised to the chancellor

A home office minister who described Chancellor Gordon Brown as "penny pinching" has publicly apologised.

Lord Rooker launched into Mr Brown and his department in a speech to peers on the eve of the Budget.

He described them as "treasury wreckers" and "penny pinchers".

In my experience the treasury has virtually wrecked every good idea I have come across

Lord Rooker

But on Friday evening he issued a statement saying he had written to the chancellor to apologise.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "I have spoken personally to Lord Rooker who has assured me of his absolute commitment to the overall policies and priorities of the government.

"Following our conversation he has written to the chancellor expressing regard and offering his apologies.

"I am satisfied that this now closes the issue."

'Money God'

Mr Blunkett, himself in hot water over an alleged comment about his Cabinet colleague, took the opportunity to deny he had called the chancellor the "Money God", saying the phrase "has never passed my lips".

Lord Rooker, formerly Birmingham Perry Barr MP Jeff Rooker, was made a peer after the general election.

In a speech to peers on Wednesday he said: "In my experience as a minister the treasury has virtually wrecked every good idea I have come across in the past five years, due to the narrow, short-term view it takes."

And then, in reference to the treasury, he added that Mr Blunkett would not allow "penny pinching approaches" to "wreck" his plans for a new breed of civilian patrol officer in his Police Reform Bill.