Gordon Brown has come under fire from former Cabinet minister Charles Clarke for his "incompetent and unjust" handling of the expenses scandal.

In the aftermath of Labour's humiliating defeat in the Norwich North by-election, Mr Clarke blamed the dramatic swing away from the party on the Prime Minister's response to the crisis.

The former Home Secretary accused both Mr Brown and Tory leader David Cameron of abandoning "fairness" and "denigrating" their own MPs.

Writing in the Independent, Mr Clarke said: "It was this arbitrary approach which led directly to the by-election as the Prime Minister vilified Ian Gibson, but not on any fair basis.

"This incompetent and unjust style has deeply damaged democratic politics.

"Moreover the appalling result in Norwich illustrates the important political side-effect that Labour, as the governing party, has been injured worst of all."

Labour is licking its wounds today after Tory candidate Chloe Smith overturned Mr Gibson's 5,000-plus Labour majority to win the seat by over 7,000 votes.

Mr Cameron declared the result a victory for honesty in the face of Labour "lies".

The Conservative leader said an "utterly despicable" campaign presided over by Gordon Brown.

The Prime Minister said the result was "disappointing" but tried to play down its significance.

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