Campbell should lose his power

Tony Blair's communications chief Alastair Campbell should lose his power over civil servants, Whitehall's chief watchdog said today.

Politically-appointed special advisers cannot issue orders to impartial civil servants, but an exception was made for Mr Campbell, the Prime Minister's chief of staff Jonathan Powell and one other, to manage civil servants when Labour came to power in 1997.

Now Baroness Prashar, the First Civil Service Commissioner, says that should change.

Lady Prashar, who oversees the impartiality of the service, also called for a Civil Service Bill setting out the extent of advisers' powers to be included in the next Queen's Speech.

And the peer raised the possibility of a body, possibly the Civil Service Commissioners, to police it.

Her call comes after a series of controversies involving spin-doctors, particularly the activities of Jo Moore, ex-special adviser to Stephen Byers who was accused of bullying civil servants.

Talking to newspapers today, Lady Prashar admitted such a body would also be involved in the current dispute over the Queen Mother's funeral arrangements.

And the peer said the amendment made to the Order of Council, a regulation that covers the Civil Service, in 1997, should be undone.

"I do not think it is appropriate for special advisers to have the authority to instruct civil servants," she said.

"They should not have executive powers. It is not a question of personalities or individuals."

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