
Alastair Campbell was an "unguided missile" who leaked information from MI6 to journalists in his attempts to justify the invasion of Iraq, according to a senior intelligence officer who gave evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry.
Right-wing parts of the British media, including print titles in Rupert Murdoch's News International stable, were regularly supplied with material by Tony Blair's chief spin doctor in the run-up to the war.
Previously secret evidence released yesterday showed that the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) "suffered" from the former Downing Street communications director's tendency to brief journalists without consulting its staff.
A senior intelligence officer, referred to in the redacted papers as "SIS2", said the spy agency was "probably too eager to please" No 10.
"The pressure to generate results, I fear, did lead to the cutting of corners," he told the inquiry.
The officer continued: "We found Alastair Campbell, I think, an enthusiastic individual, but also somewhat of an unguided missile."