The Home Secretary is keen to avoid any embarrassment to himself or

HOME Secretary David Blunkett has demanded that prison chiefs do NOT grant early release from jail to disgraced Tory Jeffrey Archer.

In a sensational memo leaked to the Sunday Mirror, one of Mr Blunkett's top civil servants has asked the head of the prison service to make sure the millionaire novelist is kept behind bars. "We are keen to see that Archer is not immediately released," says the letter, written on behalf of Mr Blunkett.

Archer, 62, has served almost two years of a four-year sentence for perjury and could be eligible for parole in four weeks, on June 28.

But Mr Blunkett is determined to stop the shamed peer from embarrassing the Government.

The amazing "keep-him-inside" memo is written by Home Office permanent secretary John Gieve to prisons chief Martin Narey.

It says: "As you are aware, Jeffrey Archer is approaching the halfway part of this sentence. This is of concern to the Home Secretary because Archer could become eligible for parole. Given the large amount of Press interest in Archer and the difficulties this has caused the Home Secretary and your department, we are keen to see that Archer is not immediately released at the halfway point of the sentence. This has been communicated to the parole board.

"I would appreciate the views of your department on a suitable plan to release Archer. We are keen to see that Archer does not profit from his time in custody given the first edition of the book A Prison Diary published by Archer whilst in custody."

The memo says Mike Wood, governor of Hollesley Bay Prison in Suffolk where Archer is now held, is aware he has been in regular touch with publishers and journalists.

It also says Mr Blunkett is embarrassing questions could be asked in the Commons if Archer is seen to get off lightly.

It adds: "Please communicate your views on this subject to my office as soon as possible so I may liaise with the Parole Board to prevent the imminent release of Archer, or publication of any further books by the inmate."

Last night a prison source said: "This is an extraordinary intervention. It's obvious Blunkett has got it in for Archer. He will serve at least another year. There is no doubt about that."

Archer had high hopes of an early release after he agreed to wear an electronic tag.

The former Tory party chairman was jailed after being convicted of rigging the 1987 libel case that won him pounds 500,000. An Old Bailey jury found that he lied on oath during the case against The Star which had accused him of paying prostitute Monica Coghlan pounds 70 for sex in September 1986.

This is not the first time the Home Secretary has expressed strong views on Archer to Mr Narey, who is Commissioner for Correctional Services.

He previously sent a fax which warned: "I am sick of reading Jeffrey Archer stories about cushy conditions."

Archer's wife Mary already claims he has been treated harshly because of his high profile. Last night she said: "If you have this memo, publish it."

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