'Sun' suspends Bushell over novel sold to tabloid rival

A clash of tabloid egos resulted in the suspension of The Sun's controversial right-wing television critic after he appeared to sell the serialisation rights to his new novel to a rival newspaper.

Garry Bushell was reportedly asked to leave The Sun's Wapping headquarters yesterday morning after an extract from his book, Face, appeared in the Daily Star.

His suspension was the culmination of growing tension between Mr Bushell and Sun executives, including the editor, David Yelland, after the paper snubbed an offer to serialise the work. Mr Bushell was said to be furious that the debut novel by Richard Littlejohn, The Sun's equally controversial columnist, had been serialised in the newspaper, billed as "a shocking vision of a Britain in turmoil" and offered at a £1 discount.

Both Face and Mr Littlejohn's title, To Hell in a Handcart, concentrate on old-school policemen ill at ease with the values of a new liberal élite. A Wapping source said last night: "Garry made clear he wasn't very happy with the way he was being treated or where the paper was going."

Mr Bushell, who describes himself as "illiberal and patriotic", had established himself as one of the tabloid's chief commentators on popular culture. But with Mr Littlejohn dominating political comment in The Sun, Mr Bushell's outlet came through his novel rather than his column.

The critic had about six months left on his contract at The Sun, but damaged relations with Mr Yelland last month by describing the paper as a "Sleepy Hollow" compared to a "Dante's Inferno" under Kelvin MacKenzie in the 1980s.

Sources close to Mr Bushell denied the pundit knew of his publisher's deal with the Daily Star. Speculation was rife that Mr Bushell, rumoured to have been a target of Richard Desmond, the owner of Express Newspapers, will now join the Express or The Mirror.

Asked recently about Mr Desmond's interest in his services, Mr Bushell said: "I admire Richard's drive. But if you play for Manchester United, why move to Crystal Palace?"