Mandarins attack ‘do-it-all Prime Ministers’ of New Labour

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Lord Turnbull, who was Cabinet Secretary from 2002 to 2005, raised concerns over the drift away from collective decisions.

He told a parliamentary inquiry: "Trends have been identified which threaten this great institution and system, in particular the growth in profile of the Prime Minister. The danger I would want to avoid is the do-it-all Prime Minister."

Lord Butler of Brockwell, Cabinet Secretary from 1988 to 1998, told the Lords constitution committee's inquiry into the centre of government Mr Blair and Gordon Brown had worked as a small unit, playing their "cards rather close to their chest" as New Labour. He added: "[They] were not disposed to using Cabinet government."

Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, Cabinet Secretary from 1979 to 1987, said excessive centralising of power under Mr Blair had led to "bad relations among ministers" and to "setbacks to efficient and proper conduct of government".