Alastair Campbell and John Prescott's battle for influence on Twitter

Mr Campbell shot back: "At least you don't get me to write everything for you like old days."

He went on: "Trended most of Monday mate," adding that, at 148,850, he has almost 20,000 more followers. In a further jibe he added: "I don't have any of my sons advising me on Twitter strategy."

Lord Prescott replied: "If you advised me on Twitter strategy, tweets would consist of a) Burnley [Football Club] b) your new book c) how you hate the Mail!"

Mr Campbell retorted: "As opposed to a) I want to be a policeman b) Life is a tweet and c) I hate Tories ... (am with you on c) so d) vote Labour."

He concluded: "For the avoidance of doubt, and to aid the humourless and those struggling with irony detection, I love John Prescott."

Lord Prescott was given some of the most flattering treatment of all the New Labour in Mr Campbell's diaries of his time in Number 10, and was portrayed as a peacemaker who sought to curb the feuding between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

One follower asked both men: "For God's sake. And who has the bigger willy?"

"Me," replied Mr Campbell.

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