Shadow foreign secretary, Francis Maude, has appealed to colleagues in the Conservative Party to stop "spreading poison" in a move to halt party divisions and anonymous briefings in the run-up to a general election. He accused a "small minority" of "wrecking tactics of a really self-indulgent and stupid form".

The move comes as the political fall-out following William Hague's "crime offensive" continues following an article in the Sunday Telegraph, with TGWU chief, Bill Morris comparing Hague's "race and crime" speeches to Enoch Powell's notorious "rivers of blood" address. William Hague yesterday said that accusations of playing the "race card" were "disgusting" and personally singled out home secretary, Jack Straw, for criticism over the murder of Damilola Taylor.

Sir Edward Heath has described the speeches as a "muddle". Shadow chancellor, Michael Portillo, has denied the Mail on Sunday's report that he regarded the Macpherson speech as a "disgrace". Steven Norris, Hague's race adviser, has refused to back the party leader's comments on the MacPherson report.