Top civil servant to replace Campbell

A POWERFUL civil servant with permanent secretary rank is to take charge of the British government's new communications strategy, Downing Street announced yesterday today.

The deputy to the new chief will act as British Prime Minister Tony Blair's senior spokesman and will head all civil service aspects of No 10's communications unit.

The new director of communications at No 10, ex-Labour press chief David Hill, will oversee all political aspects of the media unit and brief cabinet ministers as well as special advisers.