Alastair Campbell on Starmer, Sunak and Saving Britain from Itself | Intelligence Squared

Alastair Campbell knows a thing or two about creating change in British politics. Often described as the second most powerful figure in Britain during the Blair years, he was pivotal in leading New Labour to victory in 1997 and worked alongside Blair as his closest confidant and strategist through three terms in power. In recent years Campbell has become a podcasting sensation as the co-host of The Rest is Politics podcast, dissecting what’s gone wrong in British politics - and more - with former Conservative Party minister Rory Stewart.
In February 2024 he came to Intelligence Squared to discuss what to do about the chaos of current British politics. Drawing on his latest book But What Can I Do? He explored what he sees as the radicalisation of the Tory party and whether Keir Starmer has what it takes to be the first Labour leader since Tony Blair to lead Labour into government. He also discussed the ‘Centrist Dad’ label that has been attached to him by the media and to centrist politicians like Starmer himself: has the time now come for centrists to take control of Britain?
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[@segapc1994]

why is no one talking about the wealth inequality thats getting worse... which is the main reason why everyone is hurting so much atm?

[@user-gf5qm9no8q]

i was gonna watch this, you probably saved me an hour and 20 odd minutes of my time.

[@betperrins7528]

Why isn’t Labour looking, at the very least, at the capital gains tax rates.sunak’s marginal rate of tax last year was 38%. Grossly unfair.

[@musopaul5407]

Because Campbell was one of the architects of the system that caused it.

[@johnproton259]

Spoken like a true wombat! ​@@musopaul5407

[@jamie_ar]

Great talk, shame that audio/video sync issues started during the Q&A

[@1971barracks.]

Shite talk more like

[@The123rasputin]

Campbell doesn't go far enough in his calls for radical reform of the political system in Britain. Proportional representation is a no-brainer. In fact coalitions govern better than single parties do. Just look at the success of post-War Germany and post-Communist Poland. Coalitions keep their members honest. The biggest abuse of power scandals we had in Poland were when PiS had an absolute majority. In Britain itself the 2010 coalition and the Lib-Lab pact of the 70s were relatively good. BUT to have PR you also need an executive head of state, to police transitions of power (viz President Duda's key role after the 2023 election). That head of state should have the power to not only appoint but also dismiss a government. Lastly they should be in charge of foreign policy. With that package of reforms the UK would be 100% better governed, problem solved.

[@carlhiller9659]

In germany the mistrust in political parties led to a severe rise in polls of the fascist party, so not too sure if it's a good example...

[@user-hu1yi8ox9z]

Dangerous P.R is a no trainer in terms of not doing it.

[@Validifyed]

2 party coalitions have certainly been promsing in the past, but the only historical example I have of a direct proportional representation parliment working on a state level, is the Weimar republic. Which quickly became a system locked up in disagreements between dozens of political parties, that relied heavily on presidential orders to get anything done.

[@brianbell3836]

PR allows rabid minorities into positions of power. FPTP blocks this.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@carlhiller9659 The rise of the AFD was helped by Merkel letting in all those immigrants in 2015.

[@smoozerish]

Loved this talk. We need bold and big ideas to change a broken British political system.

[@guntersaxenhammer6526]

Political system is overseen and run by corporations. Politicians gave in to them long ago. Democracy is a myth.

[@yusuffulat6954]

Whatever you think about the two co-hosts, and they both have their own flaws and agendas, but The Rest is Politics Podcast is the best political programme you can get these days imo. Especially the ones where they bring on a guest. First time I look forward to getting the next episode of a podcast lol.

[@ishubaba4202]

I’m sure Goebbles would have done frightfully well on social media as well

[@colinbaker3916]

@@ishubaba4202That doesn’t even work as a non sequitur. Goebbels wouldn’t have sat courteously with a political opponent.

[@ishubaba4202]

@@colinbaker3916 he would have done extremely well on social media. He would have adapted to the times. Whether he sat with, stood up with, stood on his opponents is another story. Maybe, they wouldn’t have made it out alive … but we’ll never know.

[@louiswall2984]

Thanks for been positive and your vision

[@simoncampbell-smith6745]

What do the people want isn't policies or great speeches. They want a properly administered country! That would be a start.

[@petestan5186]

Your choice of words makes it sound like we want to be euthanized. Please don't administer me with these creeps

[@angelopierucci7203]

😊

[@1971barracks.]

They won’t get it off Labour

[@RoyceMunday56]

I really liked your car journey analogy. It made me laugh!

[@martycrow]

"We have an army that could fit into the Eitihad" scares me on so many levels.

[@alawesy]

Though the Army is far too small, that statement wasn’t accurate. Current regulars are ~73,000 with 27,000 Reserves & ~4,000 Gurkhas. I think he got the Etihad confused with Old Trafford.

[@agd163]

❤We have the lion and the unicorn. I God is English the UK has the machine elves, alians, and angels xXx❤🎉

[@TheChwedzior]

If you are scared then the propaganda and scare mongering propelled by mainstream media is definitely working.

[@NPC-st7zv]

At least they can't be sent to an illegal war.

[@simoncampbell-smith6745]

The RAF is 40% smaller than in 2001.

[@user-qh1gy6nj7d]

Allister Campbell, is a thinking mans/woman's oratorator. His versatility and knowledge on many subjects is renouned for its dexterity. However, I can't see him highlighting the unjustifiable wrongs in relation to the ever increasing gap between rich and poorest within society. He would be a formidable peoples champion or even a force for good were he to lower his sights and take on the mantle to deal with everyday problems within society as a whole. Instead of his own pet subjects regarding the elites.

[@1971barracks.]

Hi his a master of BS and that’s all

[@archvaldor]

You know he lied Britain into an illegal war right?

[@user-qh1gy6nj7d]

@@archvaldor yes, I'm well aware of his relationship advising Tony Blair and other elite demigods within the then Labour govvernment who cowtowed to the Bush US G overnment and went on to lie about so called weapons of mass destruction resulting in the slaughter of innocents. Now our finest hour.

[@mmww_]

great discussion, audio was very quiet though

[@thomas-zs2jm]

download a sound booster extension for your browser, i use it for everything

[@BOBBOBBOBBOBBOBBOB69]

Brexit was a focus point that showed up the identify crisis within the UK.

[@rockydopeydoge6730]

Did he cover the subject of war crime?

[@StyledObject]

I wish nothing more than that they hadn't done what they did in Iraq, Blair was the best PM we've had in several decades but his foreign policy record just ruins his reputation and people for some reason seem determined to rewrite his domestic record because of very poor foreign policy.

[@Mr-Political]

Im confident he didn't do it purposley and in hindsight would have prob done things differently and people learn from mistakes but i think it takes too much precedent over everything else blair did for this country

[@zeezee3513]

Just a couple of million people died but he legalised the buggery of adolescent males.

[@ishubaba4202]

@@Mr-PoliticalNHS, education, housing, Afghanistan He was a used car salesman who took Labour -> New Labour(Conservatives wanna bees)

[@timothyreilly9561]

what are you mad@@Mr-Political

[@timothyreilly9561]

@@ishubaba4202 he couldn't sell his are to a queer

[@cammiechaos]

I bloody hate Tories. I bloody love Rory Stewart. Not conflicting comments at all.

[@InsanitiesBrother]

It is conflicting because Rory is a tory. The issue is the absolute double think you are capable of. You dislike the tory party, perfectly a fine thing to say. It's when you essentially say "even if people decide not to vote for them, if they align more with conservatism over liberalism then I hate them". A tory doesn't have to be a voter. People identify as tory and from that are able to criticise the party from within.

[@cammiechaos]

@@InsanitiesBrother I wish that there was more criticism, but they seem to be well whipped.

[@SeanONilbud]

@@InsanitiesBrother That is incoherent gibberish.

[@InsanitiesBrother]

@@SeanONilbud half incoherent. Definitely understandable. The person I replied to likes Rory who is a Tory but they still profess to hate Tories and that this isn't a contradiction. 1 + 1 = 2, but 1 + 1 = 3 and they don't contradict. He might as well have said that.

[@SeanONilbud]

@SHH885 You're spot on. They can't have much going on upstairs if they want to live with you lot.

[@The123rasputin]

Poland has PR at state level and a min. 5% rule which prevents fragmentation in parliament. It works.

[@scooby1992]

Alastair wasnt quite right about JRM's seat . Jacob Rees-Mogg represents North East Somerset and he won when the seat was formed in 2010. The predecessor seat was called Wansdyke and was a Tory seat from 1983 until 1997 , but was a Labour seat during their years in Government from 1997-2010 .

[@LiamNI]

I actually do remember the ATC thing (NATS being privatised), but maybe it's a latent memory created after the fact cos a few years later I went through the selection process to join NATS.

[@pastyman001]

I recall 1992 election and the huge Tory voter turnout, as they were very unhappy about Kinnock becoming PM and he scuppered his slim chances by that stupid pre-election rally with his mock american accent bawling.

[@brianbell3836]

On such trivia, nations turn

[@jamespentney6395]

With Republicans blocking spending to Ukraine and Trump saying Europe does not spend enough, could not Europe buy US arms for Ukraine? Jim P

[@tarquinbullocks1703]

I think I'd rather listen to someone who's relevant instead of this war criminal living in denial.

[@johnproton259]

Apt username. You are talking bollocks.

[@tarquinbullocks1703]

@@johnproton259Irony's not your strong suit, is it? 🙄

[@johnproton259]

@@tarquinbullocks1703 much as looks, brains and personality are not yours 😎

[@tarquinbullocks1703]

@@johnproton259 Oh dear. You have posited no argument to my point and it's dull just to trade insults. Shouldn't you have fought your corner with a spirited defence of Alistair Campbell and his actions in the lead up to the war with Iraq?

[@scooby1992]

Not sure he was ever convicted of war crimes and people forget that Saddam had committed war crimes against his own people , but I agree Blair taking us into the Iraq war with hindsight was a disaster and ruined his domestic legacy . It would be interesting to know if George W Bush is viewed the same way in the USA as Blair is here . Bush is seen as an elder statesman and Blair is the fall guy . .

[@mrfish4572]

Hi, can you hear me ok? Great question for the start of an intelligence discussion.

[@christophergough5366]

The bit that worries me is that I do not think people are voting for Labour so much as they are voting against the Tories (and, in particular Rishi). If Boris were put back in charge tomorrow (even with all the lies to Parliament, the Queen and the public), would the Tories get back in again? Though it's an awful thought, I think they might.

[@scooby1992]

I certainly think the tories would have a better chance of surviving with Johnson in charge , sadly this says alot about a large section of the British electorate .

[@kiwitrainguy]

Oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them.

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

War Criminal Extraordinaire

[@HRJohn1944]

"You should get off your high horse and vote Labour". For the record, despite all by reservations about and criticisms of the current Labour leadership, I shall be voting Labour and encouraging my friends to do the same. What a pity that Mr Campbell didn't do that in 2019, rather than being happy to see a contender for "worst Prime Minister ever" get re-elected.

[@M2Mil7er]

yeah, their continuity politics heavily contributed to the state we're in now. The UK would be thriving had we had a different PM in '17 / '19. Vote how you wish, but different flavours of corruption will never get my vote.

[@estebancomulet]

Amazing how Campbell rehabilitated his reputation to become a national treasure. Clever bloke. Hard trick to pull of that...

[@Tzctplus]

He isn't rehabilitated. In an ideal world he would have been indicted or at least investigated for his role in the invasion of Iraq.

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

@@Tzctplus Good news, he was investigated! There was the Chilcot inquiry and the Hutton inquiry, which both said he did nothing wrong.

[@MissBlennerhassett876]

National treasure? Have you been on the sauce?

[@simonturner1]

@@Dcc-yk2lo haha, you believe two Establishment whitewashes which were set up to find everyone involved not guilty were actually interested in the truth? 😂 Perhaps you'd like to buy some magic beans as well!

[@johndewhurst6609]

Keir Starmer has been the steady hand needed to make Labour electable, but Angela Naylor from her working class background is more labour party acceptable as PM.

[@mick947]

Starmer will win because of the Tory’s, no other reason.

[@Visherex]

So many bots, so many fools 😂

[@maralynmitchell8261]

Do you mean that People do not want to be Ruled by Foreign Bureaucrats anymore. We have seen through the Smoke and into the Mirror of Freedom ,as we Trade with other Nations who don't want to Constrain us Legally as Well.

[@he1ar1]

Corbyn's strength was his political expression. Keir Starmer shows his political effectiveness. The best politicians are both. Right now Starmer's effectiveness is good enough because the conservative are pretty awful.

[@MissBlennerhassett876]

A child could have written a more astute comment than this.

[@nlewin5072]

Everyone who spoke against Corbyn in 2019 is partly responsible for what came next: Johnson, Truss, and Sunak. Campbell needs to own his part in that, along with other senior Labour figures.

[@TIGER-KNEE]

Corbyn rejecting a progressive alliance coalition with Greens-Libs after the election result in 2019 is entirely responsible for what came next.

[@brianbell3836]

Nonsense. Corbyn was a disaster, dreaming of unicorns. Plus, a Brexiteer.

[@GWills-ys6rd]

WE NEED A BREXIT PUBLIC INQUIRY, NOW! BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO DAVID KELLY MR CAMPBELL?

[@Hollows1997]

Only when Blair and Campbell stand trial 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lenabo9929]

@@Hollows1997 Why would they? Yes Iraq was stupid and should never of happend. But America was the main force behind it, only thing britian did was give it credability by supporting it.

[@dolmen6613]

bit late -we're out - they don't want us back and we ain't goin' back

[@GWills-ys6rd]

Brexit will be reversed. All those who voted for Brexit will be humiliated by the next generation.

[@Mr-Political]

​@@Hollows1997 calm down mr know it all

[@Josh-iw3md]

This interviewer was exceptional

[@haydoncooper3744]

Learn from the past for the future but they don't.

[@slobiden.2593]

I guess we’ve all forgotten about the war in Iraq and the complete destruction of the Middle East then? Look up Alastair Campbell role in Iraq.

[@tonyatthebeach]

The Brits have no choice but to go along with America's wars. Is it right? No. Is it a fact? Hell yeah

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

History and ppl have not forgotten Alistair Goebbels

[@tomnorton7817]

I haven't forgotten what happened in the early 00s, and I objected to it at the time. That doesn't render all analysis he offers as wrong or without merit. The here and now matters too.

[@LambsyLamb]

I'll be er forget the toerag's role. Hundreds of thousands of child deaths are on his hands!

[@RugbyLeagueisbest]

What war?

[@danielbrowne9089]

Skirted over Iraq didn’t you Ally. The interviewer let him off there, he assumed a subservient stance the whole interview

[@s.p.6797]

On Alastair's introduction you illuded to mention War Criminal..!

[@j2174]

If you look at the recent by-elections where Laboru won, it wasn't because Labour gained a bunch of votes, its because 20,000+ people didn't vote, and those were all lost Tory votes. Labour didn't gain essentially any votes.

[@JJVernig]

Or split the tory vote by voting Reform UK. I still have a bad feeling for Labour.

[@brianbell3836]

So what?

[@stephenkerensky710]

This Robin-Hood-in-reverse government is ripe for plucking.

[@A__SB]

33:26

[@martinyoung200]

Campbell pins his flag to Blair. Blair was a Tory. I rest my case.

[@brianbell3836]

No, he wasn't, Martin.

[@Jons8ye1]

I wish someone interviewing would not say ‘uhm’ so much.

[@2mains234]

Much as I would disagree with Mr Campbell on almost everything, I agree that our political system is ineffective and that the calibre of those in parliament is generally low. I detest the moronic slugging match between the Conservatives and Labour that has plagued this country for as long as I can remember and more. I would like to see the scrapping of the deposit so that more people can get on the ballot without the backing of a political party or the need to be independently wealthy. I would like to see the removal of party affiliations from ballot papers so people actually have to know their candidate instead of blind voting on party allegence. I want a formal contract of employment for MPs which among other things specifies that their purpose is to represent their constituents. I want to see a ban on party whips. Mostly I want to see less politics and more sound, effective governance.

[@mikestewart7322]

Bloody speech is out sync now.

[@Intelligence-Squared]

Hi Mike, sorry about this we just noticed the audio has come out of sync in the final third of the discussion. We're working on a solution!

[@stephenholmes1036]

Have you ever served in the armed forces

[@user-lp7wo7og4x]

Alistair Campbell is awesome, I listen to the Rest is Politics and the Leaders podcast presenter by him every week. Very good speaker

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

Very good war monger and modern day goebbels

[@NPC-st7zv]

I can't even hate listen to the pair of massive bellends. I've tried but I end up seething and my hatred almost gets the better of me.

[@1971barracks.]

Rubbish

[@keech100]

That news story of what he said to that young lady has been very much taken out of context watching the full thing

[@jonnyboy8781]

Did he reveal he’s a Tory in every possible way? Class enemy of working people.

[@brianbell3836]

Clearly, you're a communist.

[@PigBig66]

How utterly depressing this conversation was.

[@malcolmlakin5265]

You do understand the irony, don' you, of having Campbell aired on a platform called'Intelligence...'?

[@AlmostYearly]

Yeah, huhuh, cus, like, he's unintelligent, right? Not like you or me.

[@brianbell3836]

Smarter than you, Malcolm

[@1971barracks.]

@@brianbell3836 You’re rubbish also

[@Mr-Reece]

Lord the Anti Campbell nonsense in this comment section.

[@_Stroda]

I think it's worth noting that the vast majority of criticism directed at him is some combination of factually inaccurate, illogical and hypocritical.

[@Visherex]

@@_Strodaand suspiciously bot looking

[@michaelwilkinson2928]

@@_Stroda His role in the dodgy dossier and the sad demise of Dr David Kelly is certainly not "factually inaccurate, illogical and hypocritical".

[@brianbell3836]

@@michaelwilkinson2928 You're completely wrong. Kelly killed himself in a state of depression. Nothing to to with events.

[@johnwoodruff3487]

Sunak and Starmer report to the same handlers 😢

[@troublington]

Campbell appears to be ignorant of the fact that far from solving it, he is the problem, being one of the cabal responsible for just about all our current difficulties.

[@troublington]

Blair, Brown, Mandelson and Campbell introduced and maintained an open-borders policy which has proved catastrophic for Britain.@@user-mw9bd2ey6s

[@NPC-st7zv]

​@@user-mw9bd2ey6speople generally have short memories but some people never forget and never forgive.

[@springchicken893]

How.

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

@@NPC-st7zv You really are an NPC!

[@betperrins7528]

What a ridiculous comment.

[@wattbenj]

Angers me how smug this guy is for a man that knows what happened to David Kelly & somehow sleeps just fine at night over it. Campbell is as bad as Boris, Truss, Osborne.....all of them. We've been living through a toxic era & he is part of it. We're getting Starmer as PM as a reflex action because we had the charlatan that was Boris. Just like how we got Brexit as a reflex action to Cameron/Osborne's austerity.

[@andreabotti9893]

Campbell is so incredibly arrogant.

[@brianbell3836]

You're all mixed up. David Kelly killed himself. It was his own considered choice. How can you blame anyone else?

[@anuragsinha2013]

Isn't Alistar campbell considered the Joseph Goebbels of the Iraq war?

[@peterm7548]

Goebbels actually! If you are going to make such comments at least get the spelling right!

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

At least Goebbels didnt go on a legacy tour trying to fix his image

[@Cheeseatingjunlista]

@@DeltaV-sayno2CCP Campbell sadly is unlikely to 'do the decent thing'

[@ishubaba4202]

@@CheeseatingjunlistaHas anyone shown him the battle ropes at the gym ?

[@brianbell3836]

Only by idiots.

[@lairdinho]

Very tired of seeing Campbell get such a big platform. I agree with much of his politics, that's not the issue. But he's a horrid bully, utterly disingenuous and a total partisan hack. His kind make our political culture worse, not better, and it's sickening to see so many people fawning over him these days. Desperately need the likes of Armando Iannucci to cut Campbell back down to size and remind everyone what a rotten bully he is. As for Stewart, he's almost as depressing. He's so insightful and astute, but in his roll as Campbell's sidekick, he cuts a rather snivelling, bootlicking, slightly sniggering and Richard Hammond-esque figure. He knows what Campbell is.

[@brianbell3836]

Campbell lives in your head rent-free.

[@lairdinho]

@@brianbell3836 I realise you'r'e an internet troll trying to look clever. But no,, no he doesn't.

[@brianbell3836]

@@lairdinho I'm afraid he does. And what's an 'internet troll'? Anyone who disagrees with you?

[@Hollows1997]

Alistair is correct! He got all of his facts and figures from a dossier, surely there are no lies in there.

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

Why did all 6 inquiries into his role in Iraq say he did nothing wrong?

[@jezlawrence720]

I can absolutely believe they were just wrong. It happens. I can't forgive going in without full throated UN support, I said at the time this would undermine the whole world order and ripple for decades and it absolutely has. Though to be clear that's on Blair not Campbell. Campbell I blame quite heavily for the decline in political journalism and the rise of spin. Paxman also shoulders some of that, and every media company that saw paxman and thought monkey see monkey do, because that confrontational style plus politicians nakedly spinning every response just created a negative feedback loop. None of that means he's not worth at least listening to. Just because I blame him for some things doesn't mean he acted with the intent of causing the outcomes I perceive him to have contributed to.

[@guntersaxenhammer6526]

He has the blood of children all over his hands.

[@brianbell3836]

Bollocks.

[@alanrobertson3172]

Clunky introduction by the host.

[@davidnorton7437]

Why would anybody have the slightest interest in what this man has to say?

[@peterm7548]

Beacause he knows what he's talking about even if you hate him for Iraq.

[@ishubaba4202]

@@peterm7548I guess that’s what some Germans still say about Hitler to this day

[@RugbyLeagueisbest]

MASSIVE IRONY ALERT!!!!!!! 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

[@deniseking2541]

He knows his stuff !!! Why are you watching then ? surely you have better things to do

[@brianbell3836]

He has a fascinating insight

[@user-tj9bg6tz2p]

This guy is a terrible interviewer; "erm, hum, ah, obviously"

[@valentineshearman8583]

Excellent. Hopeless interviewer.

[@robbiegerard7857]

The title is an oxymoron, A Campbell and intelligence in the same sentence.

[@brianbell3836]

Smarter than you, Robbie.

[@robbiegerard7857]

@@brianbell3836 an assumption which puts you further down the queue when brains were handed out.

[@brianbell3836]

@@robbiegerard7857 And I'm smarter than you, too

[@kirstymcewan2087]

Jesus why are you hosting this guy??

[@brianbell3836]

He was at te centre of Tony Blair's government.

[@rajvalapil4124]

Warmonger!

[@NPC-st7zv]

Never forget, never forgive.

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

Why did all 6 inquiries into his role in Iraq say he did nothing wrong?

[@NPC-st7zv]

@@Dcc-yk2lo mafia investigate mafia, Who's surprised that they found that nothing was wrong?

[@brianbell3836]

So, you're a Saddam Hussein fan, eh?

[@NPC-st7zv]

@@brianbell3836 preferable to Tony Blair

[@First_Principals]

Left wing talking in a left wing eco chamber.

[@brianbell3836]

Rather than a Nazi echo chamber?

[@mrkiplingreallywasanexceed8311]

Please, Intelligence Squared....we sent a man to the Moon in the 1960s. By all means do a sound check but, even if this is more an editorial matter (although I don't think it is - the lights coming up and the presenter launching with "can everyone hear me?" Was obviously a rhetorical question, highly staged and an irritating bum note that has spoiled thia for me already) We, either the live audience, or the one on YT, DON'T need the introduction to start with a sound check. What next? Ask us all if we've been to the loo? Tell is where the emergency exits are? What to do in the event we hear the fire alarm? Inform that while there is no cafe, bottled water is available at the coat checks at both the north and south foyers? To please ensure our mobile phones are off, no flash photography is permitted and anyone that has suddenly remembered they've left the iron on to please leave immediately? And why stop there? We might ask Mr Caldwell if he's fed his cat and whether Mrs Blenkinsopp's neighbour's feeling any better? I think cars still technically have ignition lights but who checks them or even notices that they've gone off when the engine starts? You don't, do you? We definitely don't need a sound check. Thanks.

[@beachcomber1able]

Stop being such a pedant!

[@Tzctplus]

Get a life.

[@sueyourself5413]

Go to The Hague.

[@brianbell3836]

What for?

[@sueyourself5413]

@@brianbell3836 Iraq.

[@brianbell3836]

@@sueyourself5413 He helped free the Iraqis from Saddam Hussein. They then decided to kill each other. How is that Tony Blair's fault?

[@sueyourself5413]

@@brianbell3836 That is some high level mental gymnastics. I suggest that you actually talk to some Iraqis and ask them if they consider themselves _freed_ We illegally invaded a country, murdered 1M+ civilians with the Americans. And then ISIS came. What a resounding success.

[@davepaterson935]

Too complicated ,. It's as easy as ABC: Anyone But Conservative.

[@user-th5nb3ox1w]

The rot in British politics started with this bloke. Everything he and blair touched was a disaster. How he can sleep at night is beyond me.

[@brianbell3836]

The rot started with the election of Boris Johnson. A cartoon Prime Minister, shagging and snorting cocaine while the nation fell apart.

[@eilegibson2465]

Corbyn is responsible for 2019 - not anti-corbinistas.

[@flucazade]

Alistair Campbell the same man who quit the Labour party, campaigned for and voted LibDem in 2019, Now telling youngsters to "get off your high horse" and vote Labour, though he always was a truly sickening individual. The thin lipped chinless centrists got Boris into number 10, got a brutal brexit that has damaged the UK probably for decades to come (against the wishes of 2 of the 4 nations). Centrists really should just own that failure, it would be the grown up thing to do.

[@tancdiscovery9432]

Politically illiterate normie liberal brain rot right there. Well done.

[@M2Mil7er]

what changed from 2017 when he was within 2.5k votes (across the most marginal of seats) of becoming PM then? Apart from the demonstrably false accusations leveled at him (winning court cases that haven't been widely reported), and the concerted effort to undermine him (including an admission of such from the gent in the video). Some people simply don't understand what happened, but proudly spout the "acceptable talking points".

[@flucazade]

Centrists never take responsibility for anything, always someone elses fault. They are the worst @@M2Mil7er

[@brianbell3836]

@@flucazadeNo one ever says 'sorry' in politics.

[@lumpyfishgravy]

War criminal.

[@RugbyLeagueisbest]

What war?

[@brianbell3836]

Nope. Wrong again.

[@robertlegge5231]

Rory never had a job so all of a sudden he is cambells mouth piece

[@kelvinbrinham6526]

Arrogant and u able to see others point of view

[@brianbell3836]

Arrogant? Sounds like a Boris fan

[@1971barracks.]

@@brianbell3836 So are you

[@Samsaraman]

This man should be in prison

[@timothyreilly9561]

he is definitely mental, with a short memory...

[@user-th5nb3ox1w]

Every time I see his mate, Blair he looks worse. He knows what he did to this country was wrong. Campbell hasn't got that honesty, even with himself.

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

Why did all 6 inquiries into his role in Iraq say he did nothing wrong?

[@brianbell3836]

Wrong again

[@timothyreilly9561]

a bit like Joe Biden

[@Boards-dont-hit-back]

Alastair Campbell war criminal

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

Why did all 6 inquiries into his role in Iraq say he did nothing wrong?

[@Boards-dont-hit-back]

@@Dcc-yk2lo ah well, that's me corrected. I really need to start believeing everything I am told... silly me 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

@@Boards-dont-hit-back Can't handle even one question eh?

[@Boards-dont-hit-back]

@@Dcc-yk2lo I just did answer you question but as you don't understand sarcasm let me spell it out for you. I don't care how many inquiries said he did nothing wrong, Campbell and Blair are liers and war criminals. His job was to literally twist and spin the truth, both of them are master manipulators and should be in jail.

[@Boards-dont-hit-back]

@@Dcc-yk2lo I answered your question. You just didn't understand it.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Campbell an unelected nobody, When i need patronising Mr Campbell i will speak to my children. Why not try standing for parliament

[@brianbell3836]

He was a Special Adviser, Stephen.

[@1971barracks.]

@@brianbell3836 Yes at talking shite

[@hollyylloh515]

This man, Saints preserve me 😤 Who the hell does he think he is 😤

[@avmobe]

Either you watched the video in which case why would you waste your time to listen to someone you dislike just to get angry, or you didn't watch and just came to the comments section, in which case you're just a bored soul with nothing to do. Either way, it doesn't show well on you.

[@J5X7]

​@@avmobeCan say the same about your comment. Instead of disagreeing quietly and moving on you attempt to ridicule their opinion. That's on you, you're a hypocrite.

[@ishubaba4202]

Alastair, you should be more worried about saving yourself from The Hague. Karim Khan has only 7yrs left…..after that it’s anyone’s guess if they’ll still protect you

[@Jablicek]

I think what people forget about Iraq is that we knew that Hussein had WMD - because we sold them in the first place. Us and the Americans.

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

Why did all 6 inquiries into his role in Iraq say he did nothing wrong?

[@ishubaba4202]

@@Dcc-yk2lo inquiries by whom ? The criminals investigating themselves ?

[@brianbell3836]

Are you threatening violence?

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

@@brianbell3836 go away Alistair 🤣

[@DesmoDreams]

God, Cambell's unsufferable'! I can't watch anymore than a few minutes. I'm off. Byeeeee . Oh, BTW. There's no way I'm voting for Labour this time. Starmer and most of his cabinet are despicable!

[@sn4545]

This man should be tried for enabling the genocide of the Iraqi people. Does he deserve to be heard anywhere except in a court?

[@lenabo9929]

That is stupid. There would be very little to convict him on in terms of evidence. Yes, Iraq was a disaster and horrible idea. However, I do feel those in power made what they felt was the best choice. Issue is their choice of Iraq destroyed a decent government. Blair was naive in his choice, but the commons were also naive in allowing it to occur.

[@thedoctor.a.s1401]

Genocide in iraq ? How?

[@shamanahaboolist]

He absolutely should be in court with Blair.

[@ishubaba4202]

@@thedoctor.a.s1401can’t remember if he had anything to do with the Genocidal sanctions against Iraq. The one where Albright said she thought that the deaths of over 500,000 children was worth it. At minimum he is a War Criminal

[@brianbell3836]

Where did you get that from?

[@tonydalton6756]

Campbell & intelligence don't go together well.

[@claireb9127]

The establishment just can’t keep away from this spin doctor and we all know what spin doctors do!. He’s as untrustworthy as they come!

[@sbwords]

Campbell is an awful man - he worked tirelessly to support his master’s desire for war. Hundreds of thousand of innocent men, women and children died as a result.

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

Why did all 6 inquiries into his role in Iraq say he did nothing wrong?

[@sbwords]

​@@Dcc-yk2lo Great question. Let's look at the Chilcot Inquiry. That concluded that Blair and Campbell changed the reasons for the war post-event. Before the war, they cited false claims about WMDs; later, the "excuse" was to remove Saddam. Chilcot refused to draw any conclusions from this duplicity. And so it went on inquiry after inquiry, failing to address the core issue of lies. Blair had a "messiah complex", which Campbell indulged. And then we have the death of Doctor David Kelly. Campbell has blood on his hands.

[@Dcc-yk2lo]

@@sbwords Call me crazy but I think a large component of removing WMDs would be deposing Saddam anyway. So the justification didn't change, it was already part of the reason for invading. Andrew Gilligan is culpable for David Kelly's suicide. If you believe Gilligan you're choosing 1 disgraced "journalist" that joined Boris over the entire UK government and Kelly himself.

[@1971barracks.]

⁠turn the f-king record

[@pauldiplock205]

He criticises Conservative Ministers in terms of quality……. yet to me they are head and shoulders above those that currently occupy Labour’s front bench.

[@springchicken893]

Really?

[@johnwoodruff3487]

Hands up all those that want to be ruled by a Federal EU?

[@TelecastPropellor96]

Me

[@1971barracks.]

Not me

[@ArjunGhag-ix7te]

Shud war criminals like AC be banned from politics & social media?

[@shamanahaboolist]

Yes. They should be in jail.

[@niguel4438]

You cannot be serious inviting Campbell to debate this subject.

[@dolmen6613]

or any subject

[@omkhair4267]

Alastair, you are a murderer a 😈

[@1971barracks.]

Your right

[@user-nh4ro4yv6d]

Alastair Campbell - what a joke.

[@Enormous866]

🤮

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

Cnt belongs in the hague

[@brianbell3836]

Why?

[@DeltaV-sayno2CCP]

@@brianbell3836 shill harder

[@brianbell3836]

@@DeltaV-sayno2CCP Eh?