Blair jets off without Campbell

Tony Blair's right-hand man, Alastair Campbell, appears today to have suddenly dropped out of the Prime Minister's mission to Africa, signalling the Government's increasing nervousness about being seen to neglect issues at home. With Mr Blair flying to Nigeria tonight, Mr Campbell's absence when he would usually be at the Prime Minister's side suggested a last-minute change of plan.

The move will lead to speculation that Mr Blair wants his chief spin doctor and adviser to be in Downing Street overseeing controversial issues such as MMR, the health service and the railways while the trip goes ahead.

Mr Blair has already been criticised for spending too much time abroad on diplomatic missions while his own public services remain in trouble.

Downing Street denied this afternoon-that Mr Campbell had been due to accompany him on the four-day trip, which will take also in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Senegal.

A wary Downing Street dampened expectations of Mr Blair scoring any major achievements in Africa. It remains unclear whether any concrete proposals for tackling poverty, crippling debts and spiralling violence will emerge from the talks he is expected to hold with African leaders.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman described the trip as a "stepping stone" on a long road to progress for the continent. He said: "There are real, entrenched problems in Africa and no one is going to pretend to resolve them in months."

Keep your promise on Africa, Tony