New communities and local government minister, Ruth Kelly, has been caught up in the leadership battle between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown with the prime minister demanding his agenda is taken forward.

In an unprecedented move, the PM has written to Ms Kelly asking her to produce a ‘radical, devolutionary White Paper', with ‘more powers for local neighbourhoods and new models of accountability and leadership, including mayors'. The letter outlines his commitment to neighbourhoods – and follows reports that former minister, David Miliband, was hauled in by Chancellor and PM-in-waiting, Gordon Brown to be told to stop focusing on neighbourhoods and put regions back on the agenda.