The prime minister's views on GM crops are misunderstood, the environment minister has claimed.

Elliot Morley suggested that Tony Blair is more cautious of genetically-modified crops than many reports suggest.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Morley claimed that the prime minister's stance on the issue had been "misinterpreted".

"I am not sure that the stereotype of Number 10 as gung-ho for GM was ever true," he said.

"There has always been an open mind about GM and that has been misinterpreted as being a great advocate for the technology."

Speaking on Friday, the Scunthorpe MP argued that ministers were aware of a "need for caution."

"Number 10 recognises that there is a lot of strong feeling about this," he said.

"On the other hand Number 10 are adamant that decisions should be taken on good science and that we should not close the door on the potential advantages of biotechnology.

"But we can't get away from the fact that there are unknowns and that there is a need for caution."

Morley's comments contradict those of his predecessor, Michael Meacher, who alleged that senior members of the government were unswervingly committed GM technology.

Meacher, widely known to be opposed to the commercialisation of GM crops in Britain, has questioned whether a balanced decision could be made by the government.

"Let's be honest. Everyone knows that there are senior people in government who are committed to the biotechnology industry," he said earlier this summer.

"I will say nothing against the biotechnology industry, there's nothing wrong with biotechnology, in terms of drugs and pharmaceuticals, we're all totally in agreement.

"The only issue is our food and there are people who are strongly in favour, everyone knows that. Tony Blair, it is said, is one of them. But of course there are others.

"The issue then is, if we have a public debate, how will the government treat that evidence? That's a very important issue."