Blair’s king of spin passes into Lions’ hands

He's Britain's king of spin - a man who made his name by changing Downing St and influencing his old boss, Prime Minister Tony Blair.

This week, Alastair Campbell arrives in New Zealand to begin a new role - one that he will be hoping will be less controversial. Britain's former Government communications director left his job over Iraq almost two years ago, and will soon work behind the scenes for the the Lions team in New Zealand.

When this expensive media hotshot was hired by the Lions last year, coach Clive Woodward, explained: "The Lions is a massive media event. There will be a huge level of interest from the travelling media, the fans that will go out in their thousands and the New Zealand public.We need to have the strategy and processes in place to deal withthe pressures that will bring."

Woodward does not want a repeat of the controversial Lions 2001 tour to Australia, when the team were hugely unpopular. Expect to see Campbell organising photo opportunities of Lions players visiting primary schools, shaking hands with our notables, and wooing Kiwis. The Lions start their tour on June 4, face the All Blacks later that month and playing a final game on July 9.

Campbell is one of 27 support crew accompanying the vast 44-player squad on the team's first New Zealand tour since 1993.

But the man described by Blair as "a good friend", who became a caricature and influenced the way the Prime Minister looked and spoke, will probably try to stay in the backroom as much as possible.

He resigned from his political role following the Hutton inquiry into the death of Government weapons expert, Dr David Kelly.

Though Campbell was cleared of charges that he "sexed up" the case for invading Iraq, a book written about him exposed the small power clique that he was part of at Downing St.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY