Ed Balls had intended, by briefing political journalists on Monday, to take the media focus off personality and put it back on policy. Instead, he turned up the heat on an internal row with a bit of character assassination of his own.

In retaliation for Frank Field’s attack on Gordon Brown’s personality, Balls effectively accused him of acting dishonourably in his fight for compensation for those who have lost out from the abolition of the 10-pence tax band.

Field — who said Brown was “unhappy in himself” and prone to rages — was a loner on a mission to topple Brown, Balls intimated.

“I think people could look at what he was saying a few weeks ago and believe at that time that his intentions were honourable. As for what he said this morning, I think I leave you to draw your own conclusions from that,” Balls said. Throughout his political career, he had generally acted alone, he added.

Political hacks left the briefing looking gleeful at the prospect of a good story, suggesting Balls had not achieved his stated goal of putting the personality spat to bed.

The May 1 local election results and polling in the run-up to the Crewe and Nantwich by-election suggest the Field has public opinion on his side in his relentless assault on ministers over the tax blunder.

Balls’ counter-offensive on behalf of his boss could well backfire.