The editor of the Daily Mirror, Piers Morgan, has accused Cherie Blair of trying to get him sacked because of his paper's criticisms of the government.

In an interview with this week's Spectator, Morgan said: "Every time she sits next to one of my bosses she tries to get me fired. Blair is more sensible and understanding that we can't arse lick. She takes it as a personal betrayal."

He added: "She has caused a lot of the problems between Tony and the media. She is too aggressive. She bestows her patronage and then removes it on a whim."