Standard unveils Hain's mystery adviser

WHO is JB of the FO? That was the question at Westminster today after he was fingered as the official who tried to muzzle the outspoken new Minister for Europe, Peter Hain.

In his first big speech to be delivered tonight, Mr Hain was in no doubt.

His own draft text declared: "I am today launching my own personal mission to tell it like it is on Europe."

Unfortunately for him, JB had other ideas.

To the embarrassment of all concerned, an advance copy of the speech was despatched to the media complete with the scribbled notes voicing JB's doubts, reservations and warnings - including one exhortation which amounted to: "Don't mention the euro."

Right at the start, Mr Hain wades into the "primitive level of media coverage" from the BBC and the quality broadsheets to the tabloids, which insults the voters' understanding of Europe. A note in brackets reads: "JB: would be cautious about criticising the BBC."

The violent demos in Gothenburg illustrate the growing gap between the EU and its citizens, Mr Hain continues, only to draw another reproving bracket: "JB: the PM has said we shouldn't dignify the protests."

The section headed The Euro brings the immediate warning: "JB has reservations about covering the euro. He is concerned about hostages to fortune."

Further along, JB warns Mr Hain that he is rewriting the five economic tests, the holy of holies to be dealt with only by the Chancellor, Gordon Brown. He warns Mr Hain not to comment on exchange rates.

Even an apparently harmless question as to whether Britain should be a cork bobbin in the EU's wake or the captain of the ship draws the reproof: "The cork analogy is paraphrasing Paddy Ashdown."

Appropriately the text, complete with added extras, reached the BBC just as the Minister was turning up to be interviewed. Mr Hain shrugged off the episode, saying that the notes were from "a very sensible official of the FO who gives me good advice".

As to identification, the Evening Standard can reveal that JB is one James Bevan, head of the European department.

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