EMBATTLED Transport Secretary Stephen Byers was last night fighting for his political life after being accused of giving a misleading version of events surrounding the controversial removal of his press chief Martin Sixsmith.

The North Tyneside MP insisted Mr Sixsmith had offered to resign alongside special advisor Jo Moore over claims and counter-claims of "burying" bad news.

Mr Byers - repeatedly asked whether he blocked a compromise deal which would have given the former BBC journalist another post in the Civil Service - told ITV1's Dimbleby programme: "I do not get involved in personnel matters."

He said the issue was between Mr Sixsmith and permanent secretary at the Department of Transport, Sir Richard Mottram.

But Mr Sixsmith said this was "definitely incorrect", adding: "I know for a fact that Byers has been involved."

As the row over "burying" bad news at his Department for Transport continued, the Conservatives called for Mr Byers to resign, while the Liberal Democrats said the minister had "built his own funeral pyre".

Mr Byers, who had been lined up to discuss the railways, roads and air traffic control on the televised debate, looked uncomfortable as he was questioned about Mr Sixsmith's allegations.

Mr Sixsmith claims that on February 15, Sir Richard said Mr Byers would only accept Ms Moore's resignation in tandem with his own.

He said he would go away and think about it, but as he returned from a hospital appointment that afternoon, he learnt of both resignations on the radio.

Sir Richard had "gone back on his word" after assuring him he would not "be resigned" in his absence and told the former BBC Moscow correspondent there had been a "complete cock-up", Mr Sixsmith alleged.

Pressed on the allegations, Mr Byers told the programme: "These are matters that need to be dealt with by his employer, who is not me, but Sir Richard Mottram, who is the head of the department.

"Martin Sixsmith agreed with Sir Richard that he would resign from his post as director of communications on February 15."

Mr Byers added: "Someone perhaps has forgotten exactly what did happen."

But Mr Sixsmith, who considers himself to still be in his post, said: "If you resign from your job, it is probably something you would remember doing."

* Mr Byers yesterday issued an outright apology for the Government not addressing the problems on Britain's railways sooner.

He acknowledged that after five years of Labour Government, ministers could have started to implement improvements to the railways sooner.

Mr Byers told the Dimbleby programme: "I apologise for that mistake, and we've got to get on with the job of improving it."