He who lives by the spin will inevitably die by the spin

ALASTAIR CAMPBELL’S departure marks the welcome end of an era — an era that started with Peter Mandelson.

The era of the too-present, too-public, too-vocal spin doctor, too eager to grab credit in public for the success of a political client.

He who lives by the spin dies by the spin. And, just as one of the most brilliant American presidents is likely to be remembered most for a sleazy episode with an intern, the real danger of the Campbell/Mandelson axis is that one of the most brilliant British prime ministers may be portrayed by history as a product of public relations practitioners, rather than as a fine mind driving towards the achievement of the public good.