Spin doctor should go, says colleague

British government spin doctor Jo Moore should go despite apologising for describing September 11 as a ‘‘good day’’ to sneak out bad news, a colleague said today.

Staff at the British Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions would find it difficult to work with her, the anonymous civil servant warned.

Ms Moore, special adviser to British Transport Secretary Stephen Byers, yesterday said sorry for the ‘‘huge offence’’ her remarks had caused.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has backed Mr Byers’ decision to keep her on despite complaints from Labour back benchers.

But her colleague told BBC Radio: ‘‘I really feel her approach was out of all context.

‘‘I know it was very early on but I feel that her position is untenable. She should do the right thing and accept that that sort of manipulation is not acceptable to the general public.’’

None of Ms Moore’s civil service colleagues would have behaved in that way, the anonymous source said.

And he admitted he would be ‘‘very guarded’’ in any future dealings with her.