The Daily Express has said it will now back Michael Howard as he attempts to defeat Labour at the next general election.

In a blow for the government, which has strenuously sought to court the media, Richard Desmond's paper said Tony Blair had "lost his way".

And his second term in office had been marked by "spin and deception".

"Labour is no longer fit to govern this great country," says an editorial in Thursday's edition.

And the issue that prompted the change was the European Union - described as "a monster swallowing up sovereign nations under the tyranny of a vast and heartless bureaucracy".

Offering a referendum after the next election "is the final act of betrayal".

The new constitution will "surrender Britain to the will of a superstate" adds the paper.

It also points to failures in other areas such as transport, taxation and crime.

The paper's decision will come as a major boost to the Tories.

Reacting to the news, party chairman Liam Fox said the prime minister had "simply not delivered".

"Tony Blair came to power promising so much but he has simply not delivered. People are paying more tax but have nothing to show for it and the government has no coherent plan to tackle crime or solve the crisis in Britain’s immigration system," he said.

"It is time for a change. While the Labour Party offers people more spin, the Conservatives will offer people real solutions."