The former Labour head of communications, Alastair Campbell, has continued his public spat with Adam Boulton.

Mr Boulton, the Sky News political editor, was labelled ‘pathetic’ by Mr Campbell as their fiery live exchange on Sky News threatens to spill over. Mr Boulton was also accused of throwing a temper tantrum by Campbell.

The row between Mr Boulton and the former Labour chief was broadcast live on Sky News, where the 24-hour news station was covering the aftermath of the resignation announcement by outgoing Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The pair was also scheduled to play against each other today in a charity football game that could turn nasty.

Speaking to reporters this morning before the game, Mr Campbell claimed that he and many others had been watching the Sky News coverage live or online and that the common opinion was that Boulton had been unprofessional in his behaviour. Mr Campbell also acknowledged that he had strong views towards the media, to which he asid he is entitled.

Mr Campbell added that the media coverage of the electoral campaign was laughable, with supposedly independent intermediaries such as Boulton becoming precious when challenged. The row began after Boulton asked if Britain really needed Gordon Brown limping around for four months until his retirement. Mr Campbell hit back by saying that such comments were not impartial, and that Boulton was an advocate of David Cameron - one who saw Mr Brown as little more than dead meat.

The incumbent British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has announced that he will be resigning from his post by September at the latest.

While Mr Brown and his fellow Labour Party ministers are working around the clock to try and reach an agreement with the Liberal Democrats on forming a new government, any such eventuality will not be headed by the current Labour leader who hopes to hang on to the reigns until the next party conference.

The presence of Mr Brown at number 10 Downing Street has widely been regarded as detrimental to his party’s chances of making a new deal with Nick Clegg. The announcement has therefore not been as much of a surprise as it may have seemed, with the focus on both sides firmly on finding common ground on the issue of electoral reform.

Both the poll-leading Conservative Party and Mr Brown’s Labour Party have been trying to woo the liberal Democrats through a range of reform initiatives as the battle for Britain’s leadership enters a critical phase.

The Tories responded to Mr Brown’s resignation announcement by offering the Liberal Democrats one final chance to introduce a referendum of Britain’s voting method, with the latter favouring a move to the Alternative Vote (AV) system.  Labour has gone further, offering to make the AV system law before conducting a referendum seeking voter approval.

Tomorrow is looming as crunch time for all concerned, with a full Liberal Democrat coalition with one or other of the main parties the most likely outcome.