Councils, such as Northumberland, which has three schools in the first wave of the programme, have been warned by the EFA that the lack of private finance has resulted in the later start date - still to be set.

BBC: School rebuilding delayed by lack of finance

The scheme is part of efforts to develop the Pentland Firth and waters surrounding the Orkney Islands in the largest planned wave and tidal generating programme in the world.

BBC: Pentland Firth tidal project set for development

Politicians also criticised his decision to switch Yesterday in Parliament to long wave, and shorten the news and current affairs programme The World at One.

BBC: Boyle steps down at Radio 4

Meanwhile former foreign office minister David Mellor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a tragedy that the wave of international politicians trying to preserve peace had not been present "before the situation got to the terrible state that it is now".

BBC: Setback for Cook peace bid