Blunkett wants Clarke to be quiet

David Blunkett said internal squabbles could deter voters

David Blunkett has warned Charles Clarke - the man who succeeded him as home secretary - to stop being openly critical about Tony Blair.

He said criticising the prime minister would simply help Labour's opponents.

Writing in the Sun, his message to Mr Clarke was that "a period of silence on your part would be welcome".

Mr Clarke, sacked as home secretary in May in the wake of the controversial release of foreign prisoners, said Mr Blair had "lost his sense of purpose".

Mr Clarke questioned the prime minister's leadership in a series of media interviews in which he gave his views on the problems at the Home Office and the decision to replace him as home secretary in the reshuffle.

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Mr Blunkett responded by writing: "Charles' anger adds to the frenzy of trouble being stirred up for Tony Blair and the Labour Party - not by the Tories ... but by the motley band of rank-and-file Labour MPs, disappointed never will-bes who seem to think that undermining the prime minister will revitalise the party."

Mr Blunkett added: "Some people never learn. They think those 18 frustrating years of opposition can never happen again - forgetting that nothing puts off voters more than parties who can't even agree among themselves."

And he warned that Labour could suffer the same fate as the Conservatives after they ousted Margaret Thatcher as prime minister.

"They also thought they would reign for ever during the 11-year premiership of Margaret Thatcher. But once she was deposed, it was downhill all the way," said Mr Blunkett.