PM roots out hair dye rumours

The Downing Street spin machine went into overdrive today to rubbish damaging claims that Tony Blair has resorted to dyeing his hair.

The charge, long the subject of speculation at Westminster, surfaced into print in the unlikely medium of No10's favourite newspaper, the Financial Times.

Its Observer column claimed the 48-year-old Prime Minister's locks had "acquired a distinct blond tint" and suggested that the change might be due to "an unwise experiment with some over-the-counter colouring".

"It is nonsense," said a Downing Street spokesman. Another senior source said: "I am 100 per cent certain that the answer is No."

Further evidence against the claim came from a journalist who accompanied Mr Blair throughout his four-day African tour last week. She said that tell-tale grey flecks were visible in his hair throughout the trip, ruling out the use of dye.

The FT called on the PM to "nail his colours to the mast" by denying the claim in person, but No10 refused to hit back with puns of its own. "We are not playing their game," a spokesman said.

In Germany a similar row spiralled out of control until Chancellor Gerhard Schr?der threatened to take out injunctions against any newspaper claiming he uses dye.