Dave Prentis

Tony Blair has been warned that a third Labour term in office is being jeopardised by a lack of direction.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said that the government had to clarify its policies in order to prevent the Liberal Democrats gaining support.

The Lib Dem victory in Brent East last week should act as a "wake up call", Prentis told a Fabian Society seminar in London on Monday.

"The government often talks down its successes, conceals its efforts at redistribution, downplays the reduction in poverty and denigrates public sector workers and their efforts," he said.

"So while the public service debate is dominated by talk of modernisation, talk of reform, a picture is painted of staff pursuing their self-interest; in need of a bit of private sector discipline.

"Unions are portrayed as producerist, having narrow interests, and as not caring about public service users.

"Is it any wonder the public is losing patience? Who can blame them for being sceptical?"

Prentis was expected to warn that the government is now "perilously close to losing its way and jeopardising a third term".

"If it cannot deliver on schools and hospitals, as it promised at the last election, the electorate will lose trust," he said.

"We have to re-evaluate where we are going, we have to look at what works and not allow the Liberal Democrats to steal our clothes."