THE Bishop of Durham has launched an extraordinary attack on Tony Blair's suppression of free speech - accusing him of introducing 1984-style "thought crimes".

The Right Reverend Tom Wright condemned new laws that had sparked the investigation of religious leaders for making "moderate" comments about issues such as homosexuality.

He said they had contributed to a glorification of victimhood, helping to create an atmosphere in which groups demanded the right not to be criticised.

And the result was that ordinary people were increasingly too scared to debate important issues at their local pub, in case they faced police action.

Dr Wright said: "As the crimes in question have to do not with actions, but with ideas and beliefs, what we are seeing is thought crime.

"People in my diocese have told me they are now frightened to express their opinions down at the pub on matters of considerable public interest for fear of being reported, investigated and perhaps even charged.

"I did not think that I would see such a thing in this country in my lifetime. The word for it is tyranny - sudden moral climate change enforced by thought police."

The phrase "thought crimes" was coined by George Orwell in his novel 1984, which described an oppressive society ruled by a figure called Big Brother.

The vision of an all-powerful thought police, controlling every aspect of life, was seen as a warning to future generations about the threat of totalitarian governments.

Two years ago, the Bishop of Chester was interviewed by police after he said gay people should seek medical help to reorientate themselves.

And, last month, the head of the Muslim Council of Britain faced a similar investigation for saying that homosexuality was harmful.

In both cases, the police responded to complaints from members of the public that the comments were homophobic, or even a hate crime.

Dr Wright, who spoke out during a House of Lords debate on freedom of speech, also attacked the legislation to ban the incitement of religious hatred, passed this month. He criticised crackdowns that saw protestors arrested for demonstrations outside the Houses of Parliament and for heckling at last year's Labour Party conference.

Dr Wright said freedom was "at risk if honestly held beliefs, clearly and respectfully expressed, are likely to get you into trouble with the law".

The bishop is based ten miles from Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency at Auckland Castle, making his criticisms uncomfortable reading for the Prime Minister, who is a practising Christian.