A frustrated Tony Blair has blasted the media for ignoring the real issues and obstructing a public "hungry" to know more about Labour's policies.

In an interview for the Independent, Blair accused the media of benefiting the Tories by ignoring the "real issues".

"The Conservatives don't want an issues based campaign, They are using guerrilla tactics and are avoiding health, education and the economy. They don't want to talk about the issues that really matter to people. Large parts of the media are just helping them along with it," he said.

His comments that the media is frustrating a dialogue between the government and the public on "a proper basis" are set to revive accusations of Labour "control freakery" after an embarrassing high profile row over claims that broadcasters were "colluding" with anti-government protesters.

""What I find frustrating is that I am longing for this dialogue with the public to be on a proper basis. I believe the public have got a real hunger for that kind of debate. But the reality is, the way it is being covered by a lot of national radio and television is a long way off that," he said.

In a separate interview with the Express, Blair says that Labour may have "spun" too many stories with a view to grabbing the headlines, with the result that the public are now sceptical of government announcements.

"I think spin took on a life of its own far beyond anything it ever merited," he said.

But the malaise may well be deeper than questions of presentation.

A Gallup poll in today's Telegraph finds that voters are turned off politicians, widely regarded to be dealing in sound bites and slogans, more than two thirds accuse party leaders of making promises they know can not be kept.