Bill to ban Civil Service 'spin'

Plans for a new law guaranteeing the political impartiality of the Civil Service will finally be unveiled this week

The draft Civil Service Bill - aimed at killing off the culture of "spin" - will make it an offence for a minister or their special adviser to politically direct a civil servant.

However, some observers think Tony Blair's reluctance over the issue means that it will never become law.

The Prime Minister promised a draft bill in the Queen's Speech almost exactly a year ago, but has made no secret that it is not a government priority.

It is thought that Mr Blair was only forced to bring the issue forward because the Hutton Inquiry made clear how civil servants were kept out of the loop on many decisions.