Chris Patten, the former Conservative chairman, has said people like him have landed the party in a complete mess, and he has called on himself to keep quiet.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Mr Patten said the Conservatives could be a very effective opposition if former frontbenchers didn't keep talking to the media. "They shouldn't keep sticking their oar in," he announced from a rowing boat at a photo opportunity on a boating lake.

"So much is heard from these publicity-seekers," he said to the journalists he had gathered, "they just don't know when to shut up. And another thing..."