Guto Harri examines Charles Falconer's ascent to the heart of Whitehall

Lord Falconer, who was made a peer and appointed solicitor general the day after Labour's General Election victory, has taken up a policy co-ordinating role similar to that held by Peter Mandelson when he was minister without portfolio.

The Conservative Constitutional Affairs spokesman Liam Fox says he is concerned about Lord Falconer's appointment to such influential committees at the heart of government.

The committees cover policy areas such as the economy, future legislation and public spending.

'Control freak'

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's PM programme he said: "It seems the control freak part of Tony Blair's personality is ever extending.

"It seems that he wants to have his close friends in positions of authority even more so than many of his senior cabinet colleagues. I think that is something that as democrats we should be concerned about.

"I think the fact that this government is extraordinarily prone to cronyism is a tendency we see almost at every turn now."

But Charles Hayden Cave, a friend of Lord Falconer, insisted that he was the right man for the jobs.

Whatever Lords Falconer's merits the move seems sure to strengthen the prime minister's control over policy making.

'Presidential government'

The Labour chairman of the Common Public Administration Committee, Rhodri Morgan, will be keeping a close watch on developments.

He told PM: "Obviously Charlie Falconer is going to be enormously influential because he is on 16 cabinet committees, which must be almost a record.

"But the issue is whether that presence on those cabinet committees is something that is delivered with a light touch or with a heavy hand.