Tony Blair risks becoming an electoral liability, according to government ministers as the Prime Minister faces fresh accusations that his ‘presidential style’ is starting to affect Labour’s support.

If it’s taken them this long to work it out, I rather suggest that Mr Blair should get some new aides.

Another Blairite minister admitted he had been taken aback by the hostility to the leader on the doorsteps: ‘There are people shouting “if you get rid of Blair we’ll vote Labour”, although I think a lot of that is bluff.’

They were surprised at this? Have they no idea whatsoever about what’s going on in this country? Tony Blair is deeply unpopular with many, many people.

‘Is Tony less popular than he was eight years ago? … yes. Does that mean he’s no longer an asset? No, he remains a huge asset.’

This ‘senior strategist’ has completely lost his or her marbles if they think that Mr Blair is an assest through his popularity. There are precious few people who like Mr Blair (though I admit there are still some). But he is, by no means, a ‘huge asset’ to his party. If Gordon Brown were currently at the helm, as I’ve said before, the Labour party would win the next election with a huge majority. But it’s a bit late, now.