Tony Blair has branded ex-junior defence minister Tom Watson "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" after he quit in protest at the Prime Minister staying in office.
Within minutes of Mr Watson announcing his decision to resign, Mr Blair hit back, saying he had been planning to fire him anyway.
Mr Blair said in a statement: "I have heard from the media that Tom Watson has resigned.
"I had been intending to dismiss him but wanted to extend to him the courtesy of speaking to him first.
"Had he come to me privately and expressed his view about the leadership, that would have been one thing.
"But to sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong.
"It would therefore have been impossible for him to remain in Government."
