The outgoing leader of one of Britain's biggest unions has condemned ministers over a "silent conspiracy" to bury efforts to tackle racism in Britain.

In an interview with ePolitix.com, Sir Bill Morris said society faces a "battle" to prevent the government pandering to people who are "quite frankly racist".

The normally loyal general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union launched his broadside just weeks before his retirement from one of the most prominent posts in the British trade union movement.

"The battle that we have to fight is to make sure that the government doesn't pull back on its commitment," he told this website.

"I believe there is an almost silent conspiracy to jettison the report of Lord Macpherson, who identified institutionalised racism as a factor which inhibits the growth and progress and development of black people taking their rightful place as managers, as leaders.

"That embarrassed Britain and there are a lot of people who are trying to bury that agenda and there are some of them in government."

Sir Bill said he was "desperately concerned" that the home secretary was stoking up racism across Britain.

"Every single day you wake up and you hear another announcement from the Home Office, which is attacking, attacking, attacking," he added.

"They are pandering to anti-social attitudes out there who are, quite frankly, racist."

He warned that under David Blunkett the Home Office was introducing measures "more draconian and nasty than any government has been".

"I think they have got it badly wrong on the whole context of race and immigration," he added.

Pressed on who in government was attempting to bury the Macpherson agenda, Sir Bill said ministers were "collectively responsible".

"They have collective responsibility. We have a Cabinet government, so I hold government responsible. That is one area of policy where I disagree with government."

And whilst he welcomed Labour's efforts on the economy and public services, Sir Bill warned that ministers could leave office having created "a more intolerant country in many ways".

"Not just on the issue of race. Issues about social attitudes, a whole raft of ways that could be expressed; the collegiate nature of our society could be damaged by all that," added Sir Bill.

However, his comments were dismissed by the Home Office.

"We have heard these comments before and they could not be more wrong or inaccurate," said a spokesman.

"His comments on the Macpherson report are inaccurate as we have implemented the recommendations of the Macpherson report and repeatedly said that the next challenge is to tackle the glass ceiling that many black and ethnic minority people face in this country.

"His comments on immigration are wrong as we can only build trust, confidence and tolerant communities if we tackle abuse of our asylum and immigration systems which is what we are successfully doing, while opening up new legal routes for migrants to come and work here."

Despite looking for a "rocking chair" when he retires next month, Sir Bill warned he will still speak out on the issue of race and asylum.

"I am not disappearing from public life. My interest in asylum seekers and refugees will continue. I have tried to give a voice to those who have not got a voice...in our society. And I shall continue to do that," he said.

"Indeed I will be able to speak in a much freer way because I won't be constrained by my union's policy, or indeed anybody's policy.

"What I have said to my colleagues here is that I may be off the payroll but I will not be going away."