Sir, Before “you’re only a f***ing hairdresser” replaces “we don’t do God” as my most quoted remark, could I make clear that while I did say “we don’t do God” to an American magazine journalist, I have never described Andre Suard as “only a f***ing hairdresser” to anyone. There are other direct quotations attributed to me in your recent serialisation of Cherie Blair’s book which were not accurate, but this is the one I would like to deny, not least since it goes against the rule I have tended to operate most of my working life, which is to save my harshest words for colleagues at or above my level within the organisation. I think people I have worked for, and who have worked for me, would confirm this as my general approach. As for Andre, I always liked him and was always grateful when he spared me a time-wasting trip to Blades in St James’s (now modernised out of existence) by cutting my hair in Cherie’s bathroom in Downing Street.

Alastair Campbell
London NW3

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