In an unprecedented attack, they say the fault lies with Downing Street’s obsession for presentation rather than substantive policy.

Leaked minutes of a two-day conference last week reveal the strongest attacks came from the communication directors of ministers who are among the prime minister’s closest allies. They include John Reid, the health secretary, David Blunkett, the home secretary, and Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary.

All felt that they were bullied by Blair’s aides into making announcements to grab headlines before ministers had worked out coherent policies on health, crime and education.

They complained about the “No 10 problem”, that the government “lacks a credible voice” and that Downing Street tries to “rugby tackle” other departments that attempt to operate in an open and honest way.

In one case, No 10 stands accused of trying to “suppress” a government opinion poll that showed the public largely felt the BBC was a “wronged and wounded beast” over the Hutton inquiry into the death of the scientist Dr David Kelly.

One media chief even compared Blair’s government to “Skoda in the mid-1990s”, when the car maker had a bad reputation before being rescued by Volkswagen.

“The trust problem is not just about communications, it is about substance,” he said.

The media chiefs expressed fears they were being blamed for the collapse of trust in Blair when it was the lack of substance and No 10’s obsession with spin that were to blame.

The revelations from the “spin summit” will embarrass No 10 as the Labour party conference gets under way in Brighton today.

It comes as a string of opinion polls show a slump in support for the government. A Mori analysis puts the Tories on 33% support, one point ahead of Labour, and finds Blair’s majority could fall to as little as 24 seats at the election.

Another poll, carried out by Populus, puts Labour third, with its 28% support the lowest in 21 years. The Liberal Democrats are the main beneficiaries with 29% support, just three points behind the Tories.

One other poll finds 60% of women unhappy with Blair’s performance while a separate one claims 67% of people think the government dishonest.

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