A senior Cabinet minister has conceded that the government has lost the trust of Britain's voters.

Writing in Thursday's New Statesman magazine, Tessa Jowell admits that the lack of trust in government "is real".

The frank admission from one of the Cabinet's last remaining Blairites comes at a difficult time for the prime minister.

The government is fending off criticism over Iraq, the Hutton inquiry and a series of unpopular policies such as top-up fees and foundation hospitals.

The culture secretary says Labour has been damaged by a lack of "emotional intelligence".

"Rebuilding trust will take time and conviction that change is necessary," she says.

"Just saying sorry now and doing nothing different will not do."

But Jowell insists that ministers can overcome their difficulties.

"The government's mid-term trough is down to the issue of trust, and not just on Iraq. Every week I hear my constituents talk about trust," she says.

"Alastair Campbell, Andrew Gilligan and Lord Hutton barely register. Instead, the talk is about what is being done well or badly in their community."

Her comments follow a series of polls which show that Tony Blair's personal standing has slumped since the war with Iraq.

Jowell adds that the government has failed to tackle the "macho culture" in British politics.

"Lack of trust in central government is real. We cannot simply complain 'it's not fair'," says the Cabinet minister.

"New Labour has made mistakes. We are the most feminist administration ever but we have not changed this country's outdated, macho political culture.

"The government often displays poor emotional intelligence and lack of empathy with those threatened by change."