Downing Street has denied that Tony Blair's suggestion the UK might quit the European Convention on Human Rights was aimed at getting positive newspaper headlines on asylum.

We should concentrate on dealing with applications much more quickly instead of going along with tabloid hysteria Louise Ellman

Mr Blair's official spokesman said if asylum measures currently coming into operation did not work "we are not afraid to think more radically, more fundamentally if necessary".

Meanwhile, Home Secretary David Blunkett has accused the Sun newspaper of using "racist" language in opinion articles about Iraq.

The comments came as he urged religious leaders to encourage public support for genuine refugees.

Mr Blunkett said: "I was horrified to read in a leader column this morning in The Sun about the tide of disease and terrorism pouring into the country in the guise of asylum-seekers," he said.

"Their political editor also wrote a piece and he said people would describe him as racist if he expressed his views.

"If you use terminology like that, then it is not surprising that people who, like me, don't believe in gesturism, believe it is racist because it is."

Tuesday's edition of the newspaper said it feared for Mr Blunkett's sanity after his "astonishing rant".

Walk away

Earlier, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said it would be a "great mistake" to leave the European convention.

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith meanwhile said ministers had lost control of asylum.

Mr Blair's spokesman said recent measures - such as accommodation centres, better port security and benefits changes - needed to be given "reasonable" time to work.

Kennedy opposes convention being dropped

But if they did not succeed there would have to be a review of the UK's obligations under the human rights convention.

Asked if the UK could opt out of one piece of the convention, he said: "We have to stay within the convention, or walk away from the convention."

Mr Blair told BBC One's Breakfast with Frost programme on Sunday the present asylum situation was "unacceptable".

He did not explain what he meant by a "fundamental look" at British obligations under the convention.

Labour MP Louise Ellman said she was "dismayed" by the tone of the remarks and warned ministers against "tabloid hysteria".

"I fear that the government is panicking instead of addressing the issue," Ms Ellman told BBC Radio 4's World At One.

'Kneejerk'

Mr Kennedy, who has branded government asylum policies a threat to civil liberties, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't think this is the right route for Britain to be heading."

He said it remained to be seen whether Mr Blair's comments were a "knee jerk reaction" to negative press coverage, or a "considered item of government policy".

Duncan Smith: System is a mess

Mr Duncan Smith told BBC Radio Scotland the "vast majority" of those seeking to enter Britain under asylum procedures were economic migrants rather than those genuinely fleeing persecution.

The big worry, argued the Tory leader, was the large number of criminal gangs and terrorists who had got into the country under asylum procedures.

Mr Duncan Smith continued: "The problem the government has got right now is that it's incapable of deporting anybody that they believe might pose a threat or a danger."

That was because of the human rights convention, he argued.

Mr Duncan Smith said Mr Blair was "waffling" when his government had lost control of the whole asylum system.

Terrible mess

Article 3 of the convention outlines the right to freedom from torture or inhuman or degrading treatment.

A spokeswoman from the Refugee Council said: "That is an absolute right and it can't be derogated from."

The council stressed that only three people, compared to more than 80,000 asylum seekers last year, were being held in connection with terrorism investigations.

About 22,500 people applied for UK asylum in the third quarter of last year, a record for any three-month period, according to the Home Office.

The largest contingent came from Iraq, Zimbabwe and Somalia.