Caplin 'planning to leave Britain'

Carole Caplin, Cherie Blair's lifestyle adviser, plans to leave for Australia in the New Year, it was reported last night.

Her boyfriend, the convicted conman Peter Foster, is expected to announce his departure tomorrow. A report in the Sunday Mirror said that Ms Caplin, who has been a close confidante of Mrs Blair's for 13 years, is expected to join him in the New Year.

Although Mr Foster's departure will come as a relief to Downing Street officials, the Sunday Mirror claimed that Mrs Blair has tried to persuade her trusted adviser to end her relationship with the Australian.

The paper reported a close friend as saying: "Cherie keeps pressuring Carole to dump Peter. In a series of phone calls she has repeatedly questioned the wisdom of the relationship and his suitability as a long-term partner and possible father to her kids. The message from Cherie is clear; 'You must get rid of him'."

Despite the details of his criminal record becoming public in the media frenzy surrounding his involvement with Downing Street, it is thought that Ms Caplin has forgiven him for previous mistakes.

* Britain's leading human rights barrister has mounted an unprecedented attack on the press, accusing newspapers of creating a dangerous climate of trial by media.

Michael Mansfield QC claims that the growing climate of prejudicial reporting means defendants are being denied a fair trial. He says the time has now come to consider imposing draconian prison sentences to deter newspapers from breaking the law.