Prescott attacks 'arrogant' Blunkett

John Prescott today attacked David Blunkett, accusing him of "arrogance" for criticising his Cabinet colleagues.

The comments came as Downing Street maintained full backing for Mr Blunkett.

The Deputy Prime Minister said he "fundamentally disagreed" with Mr Blunkett's candid views on other ministers made in an interview for a new biography.

There are signs that support for the Home Secretary is faltering among MPs and Cabinet colleagues.

Mr Prescott said Mr Blunkett had confessed to "a measure of arrogance" when he telephoned colleagues last week to apologise.

"I fundamentally disagree with his judgments on his colleagues," said Mr Prescott. "But he has apologised and was honest enough to confess to a certain amount of arrogance in his conclusions.

But friends of Jack Straw claimed the Foreign Secretary had not accepted his apology for saying the Home Office was

left in a "

mess". Mr Prescott has accused biographer Stephen Pollard of fuelling the row to cash in. The book has been rushed to print to coincide with the furore over Mr Blunkett's dispute with former lover Kimberly Quinn.

The Home Secretary was insisting it would be "business as usual". He also came under attack from Labour MP Diane Abbott for pursuing his paternity claim against Mrs Quinn while she was in hospital.

The betting at Westminster was that Mr Blunkett would survive - providing there were no more unexpected revelations.