Labour was trying to turn attention away from its own poor election results last night by highlighting Tory failures.

Although it won less than a quarter of European election votes and suffered a string of embarrassing council losses, the governing party said the Conservatives had done little better.

Cabinet ministers were also rallying round Tony Blair in a bid to head off questions over his leadership and the prime minister is set to meet MPs tonight to give his own version of events.

A major speech on domestic policies is also planned as a means of turning attention away from Iraq and the elections.