Blair bid to end culture of spin

Tony Blair will put a top civil servant in charge of government press offices this week in an attempt to end Whitehall's culture of spin.

The Prime Minister will personally launch the shake-up in a bid to show Labour aides will not be allowed to interfere with government communications.

The move follows the furore over David Kelly's death and claims that Downing Street aides have too much power over civil servants. It will take effect after the departure of No 10 press chief Alastair Campbell who resigned last week.

The new press officer overlord will have the title Permanent Secretary - and will in theory outrank other officials and spin doctors.

In addition, Mr Blair will confirm David Hill, a former Labour Party director of communications, as Mr Campbell's successor. He will have fewer formal powers than Mr Campbell but is expected to wield huge influence because of his position as the Prime Minister's righthand man.

The new permanent secretary is meant to show the distinction between Mr Hill's overtly political role and the impartiality of civil service press officers.

Mr Blair believes the shake-up is vital to restore trust in the Government after years of controversy over the power of Labour spin doctors and claims that he runs a presidential regime. He will promise to give Cabinet ministers a bigger profile and more say in government decisions in future.

Whitehall insiders say the move reflects a weakening of Mr Blair's power base after the loss of allies, including Stephen Byers, Alan Milburn, Peter Mandelson and Mr Campbell.

The shake-up has been drawn up by a committee of press relations experts, journalists and Government officials set up after the Jo Moore affair. The spin doctor was forced to resign when she sent a memo saying September 11 2001 was a "good day" on which to bury bad news.

Claims that Mr Mandelson, the former Ulster Secretary, will be given a big role influencing Labour strategy have been dismissed. But the ex-minister is said to be firmly back as an unofficial adviser to the Prime Minister.