Union leaders are continuing to react angrily to Tony Blair's claim that opponents of modernisation are "wreckers" of the public services.

While Downing Street defended the prime minister's controversial comments yesterday, party chairman Charles Clarke sought to play down the speech, saying the real dividing line was between Labour and the Conservatives.

Forum Response: Unison

A spokesperson for Unison told ePolitix.com: "We are running a series of adverts in today's papers focussing on one of our members who is a health care worker. She works long hours every day helping elderly people in their homes. Our message to Mr Blair is: 'Is she a wrecker as well?'

"Unison believes that reforms and greater funding of the public sector are needed but we are convinced that greater private involvement would lead to a worse standard of service."