Milburn: Critical of home secretary?

Labour divisions have spilled out into the open after it was claimed that Alan Milburn has expressed disquiet at the decision to appoint Charles Clarke as home secretary.

Unnamed sources quoted in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper suggest the Cabinet minister believes Clarke's appointment was "a mistake".

Milburn is reported to believe Clarke will be seen as "soft on crime" following his decision to row back from new legislation allowing homeowners to use force against intruders.

The minister has also criticised Clarke's decision to allow the Yorkshire ripper to leave jail for a day in order to visit the site where his father's ashes had been scattered.

The newspaper suggests that Milburn has told colleagues: "Frankly Charles's appointment was a mistake."

A close friend of Labour's elections supremo said: "Alan is increasingly bemused as to why Tony promoted Charles at such a sensitive time, and to such an important job, given the impending election."

Milburn is a controversial figure, and is tipped as a possible candidate in any leadership election.

Relations between Milburn and the chancellor have been tense since Tony Blair decided to reappoint the former health secretary to the Cabinet.