Ex-minister attacks government

Mark Fisher: voters are disillusioned

A Labour backbencher has launched a swingeing attack on the government, accusing ministers of being arrogant and out of touch.

Tony Blair manages to give the impression that he doesn't like trade unions, local authorities or the Labour Party

Mark Fisher

Former culture minister Mark Fisher says Prime Minister Tony Blair's administration is ignorant of people on low incomes and has little in common with people who do not use the internet.

Mr Fisher, MP for Stoke-on-Trent, made the string of wide-ranging criticisms in a letter to constituency members.

The letter opens with a claim that voters are disillusioned and disgruntled with the government.

'Too glitzy'

The former minister, who was sacked in 1998 after a year in the job, says the cabinet is too London-based and seems not to worry about people on low incomes in places such as his city.

He says that the Blair government is getting some things right - such as the handling of the economy and improving education.

But he believes the government's pensions policy is unpopular and the 75 pence increase this year contributed to the hammering Labour took in the local elections earlier this month.

Mr Fisher also says certain policies are not working, such as the abolition of the married couples' allowance, disability welfare reform and cutting hospital waiting lists.

And he writes: "Tony Blair manages to give the impression that he doesn't like trade unions, local authorities or the Labour Party. People have sensed this and they don't like it."

Mowlam defended

Mr Blair's spin doctors also come in for heavy criticism.

"In the next year, we need less Mandelsonian theory about 'modernisation' and more practical initiatives which show that we do care for pensioners and the poor," he writes.

Mr Fisher attacks the "glitzy" lifestyle of those around Mr Blair and claims there is a whispering campaign against former Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam, which the party dislikes.

He also condemns the Labour-controlled Stoke city council for not putting people first - another reason for the poor local election results.