DEFRA secretary David Miliband has been criticised by his opposition counterpart for promoting the Labour Party in his blog on a Government website.

"It is entirely unacceptable that a blog funded by the taxpayer to the tune of £40,000 is being used to promote party political activity," shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said.

"The fact that the DEFRA budget is already suffering the consequences of financial mismanagement makes wasting money on propaganda even less appropriate."

Mr Miliband’s blog post this morning read: Who says the Labour party has a history of animosity towards the countryside?  I have been sent a quotation from Chapter 3 of Aneurin Bevan's In Place of Fear, no less: "Where the countryside is neglected it always takes its revenge.  Unless county and town march together in reciprocal activity, civilisation will limp on one foot."  Next stop the announcements on the Rural Development Programme.

A DEFRA spokeperson said: "We are aware that concerns have been voiced regarding a blog entry from the Secretary of State on the DEFRA website. The entry in question has been removed whilst we look at these."