Funeral row: Blair seeks to defuse 'dynamite' memo

Tony Blair was forced yesterday to issue the Government's first detailed rebuttal of claims that he tried to enhance his role at the Queen Mother's funeral.

In a hectic day of manoeuvring at Westminster, Labour peers called for Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair's director of communications and strategy, to resign over the affair.

Downing Street rushed out a statement rejecting claims that the Prime Minister had tried to grab the limelight over both the lying-in-state and the funeral of the Queen Mother. Mr Blair's spokesman admitted Downing Street had discussed whether the Prime Minister and the Cabinet should walk instead of drive to Westminster Hall for the arrival of the Queen Mother's coffin. He said the idea had centred on whether walking would be easier logistically and rejected claims that Mr Blair had wanted to "gladhand" the public.

Amid speculation that a "dynamite" memo from Black Rod, General Sir Michael Willcocks, would be published this weekend, Downing Street issued its version of events. A statement said a protection officer travelling with Mr Blair had notified a detective at Westminster Hall that the Prime Minister might walk.

"The detective ... asked Black Rod if there was any problem with the Prime Minister going through the North Door. Black Rod said there was no problem. There was no feedback of this to No 10. As agreed, the Prime Minister was driven to Westminster Hall," it said.

The statement was followed by a letter from Mr Blair to Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory party leader, rejecting the allegations. Labour MPs made public their backing for Mr Campbell.

Lord Hattersley, a former Labour deputy leader, and Lord Desai, a leading economist, called for Mr Campbell to quit over the botched attempt to take The Spectator, Evening Standard and The Mail on Sunday to the Press Complaints Commission over the allegations.