FT sets the agenda

It isn't very often that the FT sets the news agenda,but it certainly has this morning with its lead story dominating the headlines.

Ex-Whitehall chief slams ‘Stalinist’ Brown

Whether the interview given by former secretary to the Treasury Lord Turnbull was meant to be leaked before tomorrow's budget statement,is unclear.

There is no doubt that his comments refering to the Chancellor as exhibiting "a Stalinist ruthlessness" could not have come as a worst time for Mr Brown ,especially on top of this morning's ICM poll in the Guardian.

Turnbull who retired in 2002 continues,

"He cannot allow them any serious discussion about priorities. His view is that it is just not worth it and ‘they will get what I decide’. And that is a very insulting"

“There has been an absolute ruthlessness with which Gordon has played the denial of information as an instrument of power.”