Tony Blair yesterday backed down from a confrontation with broadcasters over allegations of collusion and incitement of protesters.

Blair and Gordon Brown sought to defuse the row, clearing television reporters of provoking high-profile incidents in Rhyl and Birmingham, after a leaked latter form Labour Party general secretary, Margaret McDonagh had revived accusations of Millbank "control freakery".

"I think there were concerns about safety that were raised by various members of our regional staff and the general secretary of the Labour Party raised it with the broadcasters privately. As far as I am aware the matter is closed," Blair said.

The row has effectively been blamed on McDonagh with the Times quoting a party official, who said: "If Margaret McDonagh was asked by Tony Blair to kill 20 Labour backbenchers, she would probably kill 22." The Guardian suggests that McDonagh will be leaving her post after the election.