Andy Coulson, the former Downing Street director of communications, has stuck his head above the political parapet for the first time in months.
According to a report in The Times, Coulson says his ex-boss, David Cameron, is failing to address the Conservatives' "vulnerability" to Nigel Farage's Ukip.
The prime minister has not done enough to reassure the public on Europe, Coulson argues in the latest issue of GQ magazine, which goes on sale this week.
Coulson, editor of the News of the World for four years from 2003, is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to hack phones and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. He has also been charged with perjury.
In the GQ article, Coulson writes: "The Conservatives' post election in/out referendum promise took the wind out of Ukip sails but more work will need to be done as next year's European elections approach.
He urges the Conservative leadership to realise that the party is mishandling the Ukip threat, and are wrong to cast its members as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" as Cameron did in 2006.
This plays to the advantage of "Mr Mirage", Coulson's tabloid-style nickname for Farage.
He writes: "Ukip has become a club for disgruntled, invariably older Tories fed up with the leadership's attitude mostly, although not entirely, towards Europe."
And Coulson warns that should Ukip do well in the European election next May then Farage may push to take part in the televised leadership debates for Britain's general election 12 months later.
He writes: "The Conservatives should meet the Ukip debating challenge sooner and have Farage boxed off long before the first TV debate."
He wants the party to produce a YouTube-friendly package of Farage's "less pleasant and stranger utterances", especially on the economy.
Coulson is due to face trial at the Old Bailey next month with Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International (now News UK), over allegations that they were involved in a conspiracy to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct News of the World.
Both Coulson and Brooks have denied wrongdoing. Last November, appeal court judges ruled that News International should pay Coulson's legal fees in the case. Reported by guardian.co.uk 12 hours ago.
According to a report in The Times, Coulson says his ex-boss, David Cameron, is failing to address the Conservatives' "vulnerability" to Nigel Farage's Ukip.
The prime minister has not done enough to reassure the public on Europe, Coulson argues in the latest issue of GQ magazine, which goes on sale this week.
Coulson, editor of the News of the World for four years from 2003, is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to hack phones and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. He has also been charged with perjury.
In the GQ article, Coulson writes: "The Conservatives' post election in/out referendum promise took the wind out of Ukip sails but more work will need to be done as next year's European elections approach.
He urges the Conservative leadership to realise that the party is mishandling the Ukip threat, and are wrong to cast its members as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" as Cameron did in 2006.
This plays to the advantage of "Mr Mirage", Coulson's tabloid-style nickname for Farage.
He writes: "Ukip has become a club for disgruntled, invariably older Tories fed up with the leadership's attitude mostly, although not entirely, towards Europe."
And Coulson warns that should Ukip do well in the European election next May then Farage may push to take part in the televised leadership debates for Britain's general election 12 months later.
He writes: "The Conservatives should meet the Ukip debating challenge sooner and have Farage boxed off long before the first TV debate."
He wants the party to produce a YouTube-friendly package of Farage's "less pleasant and stranger utterances", especially on the economy.
Coulson is due to face trial at the Old Bailey next month with Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International (now News UK), over allegations that they were involved in a conspiracy to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct News of the World.
Both Coulson and Brooks have denied wrongdoing. Last November, appeal court judges ruled that News International should pay Coulson's legal fees in the case. Reported by guardian.co.uk 12 hours ago.