Top Blair aide quits for BP

Tony Blair today suddenly lost his closest and most trusted adviser, as Anji Hunter resigned to join BP.

Described as "the second most important woman in Downing Street", her surprise departure blew a hole in the heart of the Prime Minister's team at a time when Mr Blair is under pressure as never before.

She was, as ever, at the Prime Minister's side when he flew to Washington yesterday and on his return to London today.

Ms Hunter, a friend since schooldays, guided Mr Blair's every move and every judgment - right down to the ties he wore - on his road to becoming Labour leader then Premier.

However, she has been under pressure, particularly over the past year, in Downing Street's eternal turf wars. There was a particular rivalry with the Prime Minister's other close adviser, Alastair Campbell, with a deepening chill in relations between the two.

In an attempt to ease the problem, Mr Blair gave her a big promotion after the last election, naming her as Director of Government Relations at a reported salary of £120,000 a year.

Ms Hunter, 46, is certain to earn far more than that in her new posting at BP. But her appointment looks equally certain to raise serious questions about the jump from the heart of government to the heart of industry.

Downing Street moved quickly to quash any suggestion of a row, saying Ms Hunter had been in negotiation with BP since the spring but had been asked by Mr Blair to stay for a few months.

A spokesman for Mr Blair said: "Anji has made a fantastic contribution to the government and the Labour Party. Our loss will be BP's gain and we wish her every success in her new job."

Downing Street said there was "always an understanding that she was likely to leave in the autumn", and Ms Hunter will not take up her new post with the oil company until the new year.

Whitehall rules limit civil servants going from government to industry. Ms Hunter is not bound by the same code but could still find herself in difficulty under the rules for special advisers.

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