Jack Straw was branded as Tony Blair's 'errand boy' at the Tory conference in Blackpool.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram accused the Blackburn MP of playing no part in the Government's policy on a whole range of issues from Iraq to Zimbabwe to Gibraltar.
After a vicious attack on Mr Blair's handling of foreign affairs, Mr Ancram said: "I make no apology for talking about the Prime Minister rather than Jack Straw. The day was when a Foreign Secretary stood tall in any Cabinet -- but not Jack Straw.
"He is now nothing more than Blair's errand boy. A recent scurrilous report suggested that Jack had a mind of his own!
"It was swiftly and categorically denied by -- Jack Straw."
Mr Ancram was referring to reports that Mr Straw had warned the Prime Minister of the political dangers of taking military action against Iraq without UN backing.
Mr Straw denied that he had been quite as definite as the report suggested, but did not deny that he had grave concerns on the issue.
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