Cabinet minister launches scathing attack on 'loner' Frank Field » Central Government » 24dash.com

One of Gordon Brown's closest allies launched a scathing attack on rebel backbencher Frank Field today, branding him a loner and suggesting he was acting dishonourably.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls hit out after the former welfare minister - who has been spearheading the 10p tax rate revolt - claimed Mr Brown was unlikely to lead Labour into the next General Election.

Speaking at a briefing for journalists, Mr Balls said: "I think people could look at what he was saying a few weeks ago and believe at that time that his intentions were honourable.

"As for what he said this morning I think I leave you to draw your own conclusions from that."

Mr Balls said he was convinced Mr Field would now reject attempts by the Prime Minister and Chancellor Alistair Darling to hammer out a compromise over the explosive tax issue.

"I think it is very unlikely on the basis of what I have seen that Frank Field will support any proposals that are brought forward by Government on the 10p tax."

Asked if the Prime Minister would keep trying to work with Mr Field - who has held a series of meetings with the Chancellor on the 10p tax issue - Mr Balls responded: "I'd be surprised if the Prime Minister will be taking Frank Field's advice generally."

Pressed on whether Mr Field was on a "one man mission to take down Mr Brown", he replied pointedly: "I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions from what was said this morning."

Mr Balls added: "We have all known Frank for many years, and I think he used to work on his own when he was in opposition. He used to work on his own on the backbenches.

"I think he used to work on his own when he was a minister as well."

Mr Field's vicious public critique of the PM's personality and policies this morning provoked fury among Cabinet ministers.

The timing was particularly damaging, with newspapers dominated by disclosures from memoirs by senior Labour figures and gloomy poll figures.

It also added weight to Tory leader David Cameron's claim that the party was "beginning to resemble a sort of bizarre soap opera".

Mr Field insisted Mr Brown was "tragically" unhappy in his job, and claimed he would go before the next General Election.

"I would be very surprised if he's still the leader of the Labour Party (in two years) and therefore leading us into the election campaign," he said.

The Birkenhead MP warned that Mr Brown faced seeing his Finance Bill defeated unless he came up with measures to compensate low-earners hit by the 10p rate abolition.

Mr Field advised Mr Brown to speak to loved ones about the possibility of quitting.

"The awful fact that's coming across is that he's so unhappy in himself," he said.

In a welter of autobiography disclosures, former deputy prime minister John Prescott described Mr Brown as a "frustrating, annoying, bewildering and prickly" man, while Cherie Blair accused him of "rattling the keys" to force her husband out of Number 10.

Ex-Labour fundraiser Lord Levy also chipped in by repeating his claim that Mr Brown must have known about the secret loans from wealthy party backers which led to the "cash for honours" police inquiry.

Aides dismissed the allegation as "complete, unsubstantiated garbage".

Health Secretary Alan Johnson expressed anger and frustration that such comments were dominating the political agenda.

"What the public are concerned about is now, all these knives coming out," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I'm not a great Brown fan club leader but I respect him as a really, really decent, good, able politician. Is he perfect? No, he's not, nor is anybody else in the world.

"But can't we just set this true confessions stuff to one side?

"Some people see an opportunity to put the knife into somebody they don't like."