Iraq feels Blair's growing pains

The Independent has run with titbits from the Mail on Sunday's serialisation of some former No.10 spin doctor's memoirs about his time as Alastair Campbell's deputy. Lance Price has been accused of "betrayal" by, of all people, the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell. I can't fully understand what's happened here but apparently Lance Price, that's the deputy spin doctor chap, wrote a book, presented it to the cabinet and No.10 and they made him tone down some bits. Well he seems to have toned them up again for Mail on Sunday readers' consumption. Here's

How Downing Street changed the diary

ORIGINAL VERSION:

"I couldn't help feeling TB was rather relishing his first blooding as PM, sending the boys into action. Despite all the necessary stuff about taking action 'with a heavy heart', I think he feels it is part of his coming of age as a leader."

CENSORED VERSION:

"I couldn't help feeling TB had mixed emotions about sending the boys into action. He said he did it with a 'heavy heart' but at the same time, he must have known it would happen some time and maybe it's part of the coming of age as a leader."

ORIGINAL VERSION:

'"Fucking Welsh', repeated many times by TB."

CENSORED VERSION:

"TB f-ing and blinding about the whole thing."

ORIGINAL VERSION:

"No 10 were very edgy because apparently we've promised News International we won't make any changes to our Europe policy without talking to them."

CENSORED VERSION:

"No 10 were very edgy because apparently News International are under the impression we won't make any changes without asking them."

One leading Labourite is quoted thus

We are very surprised at what he has done. We are even more surprised that he chose to give it to The Mail on Sunday, which is not exactly the most supportive of the Labour Party

Nor was News International until Blair started reporting for it.