British Prime Minister Tony Blair's chief media advisor has threatened to report the BBC to the Broadcast Complaints Commission in a political storm that is gripping the British media.
Mr Alastair Campbell is considered one of the most powerful political figures in Britain though he is not an elected representative. In his role as the British government's chief spin doctor, he has been accused of intimidating both MPs and ministers as well as journalists.
Last night on Channel Four television, a visibly furious Mr Campbell renewed his attack on the broadcaster after it claimed last week that he was responsible for "sexing up" intelligence reports to justify an atack on Iraq.
His unprecedented interview came after the BBC head of news, Mr Richard Sambrook, issued a staunch defence of the report from journalist Andrew Gilligan.
Mr Sambrook said Mr Gilligan's use of a single anonymous intelligence source had followed BBC guidelines. The BBC News director accused Mr Campbell of waging a personal vendetta and said the British government had tried to intimidate the Corporation.
But Mr Campbell said: "BBC standards are now debased beyond belief."
And former BBC journalist-turned-minister Mr Ben Bradshaw claimed the Corporation's guidelines had not been followed.
"There are quite clear BBC guidelines that you should not rely on a single anonymous source," said Mr Bradshaw.
Downing Street communications director Mr Campbell will lodge a formal complaint with the BBC and has asked loyal Labour MPs to follow suit, according to The Timesnewspaper.
If that fails to produce an apology he could go to the Broadcasting Standards Commission, the paper says and Downing Street has not ruled out that course of action.
PA