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| Clarke launches attack on Balls | Clarke launches attack on Balls |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ex-Cabinet heavyweight Charles Clarke has launched a bitter attack on Gordon Brown's closest ally Ed Balls, accusing him of carrying out secret briefings. | Ex-Cabinet heavyweight Charles Clarke has launched a bitter attack on Gordon Brown's closest ally Ed Balls, accusing him of carrying out secret briefings. |
| Mr Balls, the schools secretary, had described recent criticism of the prime minister as "indulgent nonsense" by those with scores to settle. | Mr Balls, the schools secretary, had described recent criticism of the prime minister as "indulgent nonsense" by those with scores to settle. |
| But Mr Clarke claimed Mr Balls was "well acquainted" with the kind of anonymous briefing he was criticising. | But Mr Clarke claimed Mr Balls was "well acquainted" with the kind of anonymous briefing he was criticising. |
| It comes amid anger among Labour MPs over the axing of the 10p tax rate. | It comes amid anger among Labour MPs over the axing of the 10p tax rate. |
| As many as 70 backbenchers and six ministerial aides have expressed concern over the axing of the lowest band, amid warnings that millions of society's poorest will be hit. | As many as 70 backbenchers and six ministerial aides have expressed concern over the axing of the lowest band, amid warnings that millions of society's poorest will be hit. |
| 'Disappointment' | 'Disappointment' |
| Mr Balls called for an end to the public row in an interview in The Times on Friday, to prevent the party being damaged at 1 May's local elections. | Mr Balls called for an end to the public row in an interview in The Times on Friday, to prevent the party being damaged at 1 May's local elections. |
| "The efforts of local councillors and shadow leaders should not be undermined by this kind of indulgent nonsense," he said. | "The efforts of local councillors and shadow leaders should not be undermined by this kind of indulgent nonsense," he said. |
| He should stop attacking others anonymously or in code and look to his own performance and record Charles Clarke on Ed Balls | He should stop attacking others anonymously or in code and look to his own performance and record Charles Clarke on Ed Balls |
| But those comments prompted Mr Clarke, who was sacked from Tony Blair's government in May 2006, to hit back: "His injunctions about the 'indulgent nonsense' of 'private briefings against the Labour leader' certainly come from one who is well acquainted with this kind of activity. | But those comments prompted Mr Clarke, who was sacked from Tony Blair's government in May 2006, to hit back: "His injunctions about the 'indulgent nonsense' of 'private briefings against the Labour leader' certainly come from one who is well acquainted with this kind of activity. |
| "Such things do discredit politics and take us back to the days of faction and party-within-a-party that were so damaging in the 1980s." | "Such things do discredit politics and take us back to the days of faction and party-within-a-party that were so damaging in the 1980s." |
| In a letter to The Times, the former home secretary said: "It's certainly true that many Labour MPs, including myself are disappointed by policy decisions such as the abolition of the 10p tax rate". | In a letter to The Times, the former home secretary said: "It's certainly true that many Labour MPs, including myself are disappointed by policy decisions such as the abolition of the 10p tax rate". |
| They were also disappointed at "the over-bureaucratic and insensitive nature of the post office closure programme, and the problems arising from lack of preparation for a Northern Rock-style economic challenge. | They were also disappointed at "the over-bureaucratic and insensitive nature of the post office closure programme, and the problems arising from lack of preparation for a Northern Rock-style economic challenge. |
| "These all stem from Treasury positions with which he is very familiar," he said, referring to Mr Balls, who was Mr Brown's chief economic adviser when he was chancellor. | "These all stem from Treasury positions with which he is very familiar," he said, referring to Mr Balls, who was Mr Brown's chief economic adviser when he was chancellor. |
| 'Stalking horse'? | 'Stalking horse'? |
| And in a further swipe, Mr Clarke, a former education secretary, added that he and "many" others were also disappointed with Mr Balls' education policies. | And in a further swipe, Mr Clarke, a former education secretary, added that he and "many" others were also disappointed with Mr Balls' education policies. |
| "He should stop attacking others anonymously or in code and look to his own performance and record." | "He should stop attacking others anonymously or in code and look to his own performance and record." |
| Before Mr Brown became prime minister last year, Mr Clarke was a vocal critic of his leadership style and was sometimes touted as a possible Blairite challenger for the top job. | Before Mr Brown became prime minister last year, Mr Clarke was a vocal critic of his leadership style and was sometimes touted as a possible Blairite challenger for the top job. |
| But in his Times letter, Mr Clarke described suggestions that he was considering running as a "stalking horse" against Mr Brown - to destabilise the Labour leader and flush out more heavyweight contenders - as "totally false". | |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who was also touted as a possible Blairite challenger ahead of last year's coronation of Mr Brown as Labour leader, issued a plea for unity in a Sunday newspaper article, warning that electoral defeat was certain if the party "argued among ourselves". |