Anji Hunter

Anji Hunter (born 1955) is a close friend, political ally and former spin doctor for Tony Blair (she has since moved to private sector public relations).

Hunter was born in Malaya where her father was a rubber plantation manager. Her mother died in an automobile accident when Anji was a child. The family moved to Brechin when Anji was 11. Hunter, who was educated at the prestigious St Leonards School in St Andrews, Scotland, first met Blair in 1970 when they slept overnight at a party. At the time, he was seventeen and she fifteen.

In 1983 Hunter began working part-time for Blair after he became an MP. In 1988 she received a first in history and English at Brighton Polytechnic and moved to working full-time for Blair.

Hunter became director of government relations for Tony Blair's government in 1997. She left her £120,000 Downing Street post to become BP's director of communications on a salary of £200,000. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/07/15/nanji15.xml Woman who chose Blair's ties leaves family for Sky man] ]

Private life

Hunter married landscape gardener Nick Cornwall in 1980. The couple have since divorced. They have two adult children, Finn and Lara.

Hunter is married to Adam Boulton, political editor for Sky News. [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=397127&in_page_id=1773 Daily Mail] ]

Hunter has been described as "the gatekeeper", "the comfort blanket" and "the most influential non-elected person in Downing Street". [ [http://www.ivillage.co.uk/newspol/polpeople/top20/articles/0,,162333_183350-1,00.html Village] ]

References