Prescott hails the Government's "cracking start"

The Deputy Prime Minister interviewed on the Today programme

Blair Plans Annual Report on Britain Plc

The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, speaking on the eve of Tony Blair's 100 days in power on Saturday, said the report would be the equivalent of a company chief executive's report to the "shareholders of Britain plc".

Mr Prescott told a news conference said that Labour had made a "cracking start" in the areas of education, the economy, the health service, crime and the environment. "This is not the end of our crusade, but only the beginning. But we can be proud of what we have achieved in only 100 days."

There was a glitch at the news conference when the party released to journalists copies of a day-by-day timetable of its successes so far: crucially, it stopped ten days short of the official 100-day mark of August 9th. The list finished at about Day 90, leaving out what are widely seen as a series of recent Labour 'banana skins,' including:

• Failure to win the Uxbridge by-election
• Foreign Secretary Robin Cook's marriage break-up
• A row over alleged media management
• Controversy over Trade and Industry Minister Lord Simon's shareholdings
• Claims of a whispering campaign within the party against suicide MP Gordon McMaster.

Mr Mandelson went on to give an abrasive interview to BBC Radio 4's The World At One. Asked why he, a junior minister, had been left "minding the shop" while the Prime Minister was on holiday, he accused "media people" of being preoccupied with themselves.

Mandelson lashes out at "media people"

Hear his clash with Martha Kearney on BBC Radio's The World At One - Dur. 4'59

Mr Mandelson told interviewer Martha Kearney: "I think the reason why media people like you like talking about news management is because you really rather prefer talking about yourselves and your work and your lives in the media than talking about things that interest the bulk of the population.

"I'm talking about their schools and their health service. I'm talking about their fear of crime. I'm talking about unemployment and poverty in this country.

"This week we've had day in and day out a preoccupation with yourselves. I think it's become very boring and very tedious.

"I think you should get back to the subjects that really concern the bulk of the population in this country."

It had been "rather nauseating in parts, where he wouldn't answer the questions put forward to him - rather he wanted to talk about the things that he wished to talk about, the glitzy presentation of what he believes the first 100 days of Labour Government has been", Mr Evans said.

He added: "The reality for many millions of people has been to see interest rate rises, mortgage rate rises and a massive impact on their lifestyles."

The Leader of the Opposition, William Hague, described the Government's behaviour as "cocky" and "bossy". He said that, in the space of a hundred days, Labour had imposed seventeen tax increases and that when people looked back after two hundred or five hundred days, they would feel worse off and less secure.

Redwood admires Labour's PR skills....

.....and attacks its economic record

His sentiments were echoed by Conservative MP John Redwood. He said Labour's handling of the economy, especially recent interest rate rises, was bad for homeowners and for savers planning their pensions.

While Mr Redwood said he was impressed by Labour's energy in getting its story across to the media, he accused the party of carrying out different policies from those promised in its election campaign.