‘Master of spin’ resigns and takes heat off Blair

ALASTAIR CAMPBELL yesterday became the first member of British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s senior circle to fall on his sword over the war on Iraq.

He resigned yesterday as Mr Blair's director of communications and strategy. Mr Campbell, a "master of spin" insisted his departure had nothing to do with the Hutton Inquiry or weapons expert Dr David Kelly's apparent suicide.

He said he wanted to "get a life back for me and my family" after working for Mr Blair since 1994.