Campbell quits as Downing St spin chief

Alastair Campbell today confirmed his resignation as British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Director of Communications and Strategy, leaving within four to five weeks to be replaced by former Labour communications chief David Hill.

Mr Campbell’s departure brings to a close a close a chapter in politics dominated by claims he had brought the art of “spin” to the centre of Government like never before.

No 10 announced tonight that his successor would operate within a new communications structure at No 10 and within the centre of Government, with details to be announced next week.

Speculation is bound to centre on whether Mr Hill will enjoy the same right as a political appointee to give executive orders to civil servants, a privilege conferred on Mr Campbell and Mr Blair’s chief of Staff Jonathan Powell.

Mr Campbell 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.

Mr Campbell’s partner and mother of their three children Fiona Millar – who works for Mrs Blair – will leave No 10 at the same time.

The communications chief had told friends earlier this year, before the Government’s row with the BBC, that he wanted to leave.

He said in a statement that he had agreed with the Prime Minister on April 7 this year that he would leave this summer. Having wanted to quit last year. he was persuaded to stay on by Mr Blair, to help deal with the Iraq crisis.

Mr Campbell said: “There are huge upsides in a position like this – the people, the events and places that you encounter and experience; the feeling that you are able to make a difference; the knowledge that you are witnessing history in the making.

“But there are downsides too and these are mostly borne by your family. The reality is that in some jobs, and this is one of them, there is no such thing as a day off, or a night off, or a holiday without interruption.

“The pressures are real and intense, but in doing the job you learn to live with them. It is your family that pays a price.

“Fiona will be leaving Downing Street at the same time, in a few weeks ... we have three wonderful children and we look forward to spending a lot more time with them.”

Mr Campbell said he wanted to write about politics and sport, broadcast and give speeches.

But he made clear he did not want to become an MP and said any books he might write – including his now famous diaries – were “some time off”.

No 10 later announced Mr Hill’s appointment saying in a statement: “David Hill will succeed Alastair Campbell at 10 Downing Street. He will operate within a new structure following changes the Prime Minister has decided to make to the communications operation at Downing Street and the centre of Government.

“Details of these will be announced later next week.”

News that changes are to be made to the No 10 news operation will inevitably be seen as a tacit admission that the culture of news management and spin had gone too far under Mr Campbell.

But his replacement is an equally tough, combative figure well known to ministers and the Westminster world.

Mr Hill, whose partner Hilary Coffman also works for Mr Blair as a press adviser, was Labour’s communications chief in the 1997 general election and had worked for then deputy leader Roy Hattersley.

He has recently been working as a public relations executive.