Alastair Campbell views In the Loop

[@howdydoo7571]

Classic Tuckerian spin putting it back on the interviewer like that

[@tw4803]

i thought the term was 'Malcavhelian'?

[@pablorjimenezjr]

Fuckiy bye!

[@kmm2442]

Was he still being a sh**, I took him as being serious.

[@thesprawl2361]

He's right though

[@paulkerr2654]

Funnily enough he was right then and remains so today. Too many people were too comfy and lazy about politics and it led to 14 years of utter shit. I'm a massive fan of The Thick of It but it's as he said quite rightly, it's a cartoon portrayal of politics. Sadly a lot of modern politicians seen it as the handbook rather than satire.

[@etocadet]

"Did I ever swear in front of George bush?" I'm sorry but that's brilliant

[@paxnorth7304]

Totally. Especially with the "Where did I put my keys ?" looking off look.

[@troppmann]

Bush was recorded as saying shit to Blair, and apparently at Tr*mp's inauguration he said "Well, that was some weird shit, huh!"

[@ironsideeve2955]

I really don’t understand why anyone gives a fuck about people swearing when it’s doesn’t change a fuckin thing. Worry more about who pays fuck all tax, is taking your freedoms and responsible for killing people.

[@goob872]

I really enjoyed that too

[@stevewatling3565]

"God Kermode, your hands are massive!" Ollie Reeder, The Thick of It Season 3

[@fitz5487]

Actually I agree with Campbell and did so before watching this video. Although parts of in the loop are riotously funny it wasn't as good as the thick of it.

[@rsb8380]

I actually agreed with Campbell before the video but the interesting thing about this is it was filmed at a time when Campbell was viewed very unfavourably by the majority of the population. Every clip of him was just filled with comments about him being a “war criminal” and having blood on his hands. He’s perceived differently today, and is a great political commentator, that I think people go back and watch this old Campbell and are heavily in agreement with him. It’s funny how time changes things.

[@duckingforcover09]

I'm not the biggest Campbell fan by any stretch but he does raise a point about the perception of politicians. I'm not calling for the violins here but to systematically assume that they're all in it for themselves and it's all about power (yes quite a few are) is lazy, you mean to tell me that not one person went into parliament trying to do their best for the country?

[@mezykin]

jo cox. now she was probably one of the most universally beloved figures in british politics and it's deeply tragic what happened to her.

[@pgl0897]

duckingforcover09 the crux of the issue here is that alistair campbell is of course right. Many people first go into politics for the right reasons because they want to do good and have some genuine substance to them. However, if there was ever a man in politics who is the epitome of a self-serving, venal shithead... its Alastair Campbell. The fact that he appears not to recognise it in himself, or even that it's the common perception of him, is a bit scary to be honest. The bloke comes across as a total sociopath.

[@CrashJC123]

pgI0897 I agree with the first bit, but to say Alastair is self serving is utter nonsense in my opinion. He was a newspaper editor, a cushy job where they're basically unaccountable by the public due to 'Freedom of the Press'. He decided to move the newspaper from the right to the left, a ballsy move. He then decides that he wants to get directly involved, and so becomes press secretary where his role is to basically deal with the press every day no matter what, which sounds like a shit job to me. So essentially, he's left his cushy job where he earns lots of money and can do as he wishes so he can get directly involved with politics and do his bit to make a difference. Nothing self serving about that. And he didn't become press secretary for the money, as that's a job I don't think anyone would want to do. Now Alastair Campbell isn't perfect and he made mistakes, but he's someone who cares deeply in my opinion and cares deeply about the Labour Party. And I actually think he's a fundamentally decent bloke because of this.

[@pgl0897]

KarlJC1411 nothing to do with him engineering himself into one of the most influential positions in government then?? I think you're being very generous to him indeed. As for caring about the Labour Party, I personally can't understand why anyone who fundamentally accepted a neoliberal economic hegemony would ever join the party in the first place unless it was to seek to undermine everything it originally stood for. Which of course is exactly what they did. Margaret Thatcher's greatest achievement.

[@CrashJC123]

pgI0897 but what does he get out of becoming influential in government? It's not like you maintain power for extended stretches or carry influence for a prolonged period. All that happens to you is that you become hated by the public. And I agree to a point about the Neo-Liberalism. I do actually believe that Blair is a genuine centrist, but I think Campbell is very left wing intrinsically. Thatcher's has really damaged British politics in the long term. The thing with these people is that most of them have the same ideal goals, but they just differ on how to get there. Campbell for example thinks you have to start from the centre and work your way outwards. I'm not saying Campbell is perfect, but having read about him extensively and seeing him deliver several speeches has led me to believe he's an empathetic and fundamentally decent human being. Blair is far harder to judge in my opinion, I really can't figure him out. My problem with Campbell is how people are so quick to disparage him, I wish people would just look a bit deeper. No ill-feeling here, merely debating 👍🏼.

[@mmoriarty4646]

It's beautiful to watch a master at work. Never interview a Spin Doctor.

[@nickmagee-brown739]

Love him or hate him, Alistair Campbell is a very smart man, the way he dissected Kermode's opinions on politics was articulate, sublime and ruthless.

[@flat6croc]

I thought it was mostly a load of fairly blatant gaslighting nonsense.

[@bmac9090]

In the hierarchy of arguments it's about a 3 or 4 out of 7. Basically just arguing againat tone (it's too crass) or simply disagreeing without any evidence (politics isn't like that). Bare in mind that in a democracy by definition politics is as venal and crass as the majority of the public think it is.

[@jessebarlow1277]

he's completely wrong though, the cynical view of government is not solely the result of the media, it's the result of the relationship between government and media which is more government's responsibility than anyone else. this is classic deflection. commenter above calling it gaslighting is spot on. props to Kermode for keeping the course.

[@thesprawl2361]

I completely agreed with everything he said. Kermode knows nothing about politics, and that lazy 'politicians are all scum' attitude is basically just what people who are uncomfortable about their lack of knowledge of the subject tell themselves so they can say 'it's fine that I know nothing about it, because they're all bastards anyway'.

[@P4nd0R41]

This was a very weird interview. Mark Kermode seems to want Alastair Campbell to "admit" that the movie was really about him and that he apologizes for being "evil" while Campbell tries to tell him in a very polite (or passive-aggressive , depends on how you look at it)way that he really doesn't give a shit about movie critics as politcal commentators.

[@jwl00066]

100% agree

[@dreamer2260]

Yep. Kermode was an arse, and brought this on itself. Campbell gave him a well-deserved and thorough reprimand.

[@Auriflamme]

@@dreamer2260 He came across as a disingenuous drama queen. But hey, you're free to have your own opinion.

[@dreamer2260]

@@Auriflamme Mark Kermode certainly did yes.

[@Auriflamme]

@@dreamer2260 I see what you did there, pretending that I had meant Kermode. That's really clever mate. You must be some kind of genius.

[@craighicksartwork]

Campbell even spinning a review of In The Loop to make himself look better. Insane.

[@RyakkiBaka]

should have had Capaldi interview him as tucker character.

[@dreamer2260]

He's literally just defending himself from someone effectively criticising him and trying to badmouth and slander all politicians and politics in general. Anyone with a spine and principles would have stood up for themselves.

[@flightlesslord2688]

ngl, that was pretty impressive lol

[@paddyt4043]

In hindsight ,with the current state of things do you think Alistair might have had a point about the media?

[@stillnesssolutions]

Spini Hendrix

[@whophd]

10 years after my first comment, and I think this is one of the most important clips on KZbin. This interview exists for posterity, a stand-off between satire and earnestness. I value both.

[@joshuajethro]

Shut up you pompous bellend

[@alanfox8928]

"More spinned against than spinning" is a very good line by Mark in fairness

[@theshowbogan]

Although I think Campbell is running away from the accusations, he does have a good point about cynicism. It is kinda lazy and I'm trying myself not to be SO cynical about things though it can be easy a lot of the time.

[@richardlitwin4046]

I have a lot of sympathy with what Campbell is saying about scepticism and cynicism and the responsibility of people like Kermode. OTOH The Thick Of It is the funniest thing I've ever seen on telly and In The Loop was funny too.

[@hellodavey1902]

More than sympathy for.. I think he’s spot on re: this

[@arc236]

@@hellodavey1902 yeah I agree. Spot on

[@RoboSlaughter]

not at all, he takes Mark calling politics crass and venal (really speaking about then modern british politics, given the context), to mean all of politics in general, therefore not skepticism but cynicism, Mark then tries to reign him back in "but do you understand why it would be that someone would get that impression of british politics", not trying to directly counter the accusation of cynicism but focus the question back onto the matter hes trying to discuss, the lack of morality to british party politics. Mark isnt being cynical or discouraging young people from engaging in politics and neither is malcolm tucker. He is ofc right that the media is manipulative but he would also never admit accountability in that situation.

[@samlaw5959]

This is prophetic. The venal and crass back and forth, Alistair made some very solid predictions that appear to have come true.

[@dreamer2260]

Exactly. He's usually intelligent and insightful and god knows he's right about the cynicism which has given us Tory rule and now a disastrous Brexit.

[@Lordofthewhyz]

I watched this when it aired and enjoyed Kermode taking him to account. I’ve seen it now and can’t help but feel AC had a point. The skepticism becoming unfettered cynicism has damaged our country

[@bdan6954]

@@dreamer2260 there he is. The last Labour voter.

[@dreamer2260]

@@bdan6954 Funny, but life in your bubble ain’t it, bud. Millions of voters at the last election, way up in the polls atm.

[@Myne1001]

It is sadly true. Politics has always been a shitty mess, but I honestly can't help it feel that its gotten even worse, especially in the social media age. Not just the UK; America almost seems like its going to fall apart from just how really nasty the divide between sides has become. The last Australian federal election had both the PM and the Opposition Leader shouting angrily at one another over the top of the moderators. Many media outlets have just dropped any pretense of being impartial and are now just outright mouthpieces for their particular worldviews. It's all so tiresome.

[@MrArchie800]

Whatever you think of Campbell he is an extremely intelligent and crafty communicator, he was 'sincere', funny and charismatic while spinning the whole time. No wonder he was so influential in his hey day!

[@neilchapman5145]

Above all he was a liar that got people in Iraq killed. Perhaps we should meet in the middle and call him pure evil

[@wbafc1231]

"he was 'sincere', funny and charismatic while spinning the whole time." I like it. So in reality "he was 'sincere while lying out of every hole in his body". The true embodiment of Blairism. Pity his lying lead to the deaths of so many innocent people.

[@g8le]

@@wbafc1231 I like how you skip the parts where he supposedly lies in this video and instead you talk about nonsense that has nothing to do with the video. Brainless

[@antonydandrea]

Whilst trying to say Malcom Tucker is nothing like him, he absolutely rips the interviewer apart.

[@richardlitwin4046]

"Did I ever swear at George Bush?" - LMAO

[@beefheart1410]

I agree that "In The Loop" isn't as good as "The Thick Of It" but, even though I can take on board some of Mr. Campbell's points here, I disagree that Tucker is venal and self interested as a character in the tv series. I think the likes of Ollie Reeder and many others (Reeder's girlfriend and her flat mate) are purely self motivated but, I think Tucker generally does what he does for the good of the party. He is invariably only aggressive to ministers, civil servants and representatives of the media but not to admin, ancillary staff or the general public; ie: he is aggressive only to those involved in "the game" themselves and so fair game. He can also be sympathetic when things go into meltdown on occasion - as when Glenn has a mini breakdown in series 4. He makes many statements that show him to be ideologically opposed to privilege, "champagne Socialism" and the Oxbridge sense of entitlement. In short: he is invested in the philosophy of the party for whom he works (never named but obviously the Labour Party). Indeed, much of Tucker's cynicism and ire is exactly caused by being surrounded by those who are seemingly less invested in the party and / or not intelligent enough to function as "fit for purpose". HOW he goes about this business is, of course, a different kettle of fish altogether. The crux of both Tucker's character in particular, as well as the thrust of the series as a whole, can be found in the five minute speech Tucker makes to the select committee in the penultimate episode of the last series where he sets out the hypocrisy and spin which currently dictates national and international politics and the waters in which he and all else involved must necessarily swim in order to function. Indeed, Tucker is a personality as much created by the damaging effects of this environment as he is an individual representative of it, and he clarifies this in his diatribe to Ollie Reeder in the very final episode. I believe politicians are indeed currently more concerned with popularity than policy and thus scrabble for an uncontroversial middle ground rather than sticking their necks out and changing the status quo for the better. This culture is endemic so you can see the ministers in the TV series - seemingly individuals that were originally idealistic when they entered politics, irrespective of which ever side of the House they sit, - become ground down and swamped by the climate in which they increasingly find themselves. I also think Mr. Campbell is missing the point in that both "The Thick Of It" and "In The Loop" are designed to be comic. Accordingly, the characters are obviously going to be exaggerated in order for the writers to get the underlying point across whilst simultaneously ensuring the characters and scenarios remain entertaining. You're watching satire Mr. Campbell, not a documentary.

[@llamaofvinter5801]

I think while it's designed to be comic, because he knows it's based on people's rough perception of him, he maybe struggles to see the humour in some of it. I'm with you on the self-interested politicians. There are too many of them currently in it for themselves, particularly the Tories, which was exemplified in the Brexit aftermath when the two ringleaders (closet remainers really) Boris and Gove realised what they'd done and chickened out of taking responsibility for their actions and hid amongst the party until they got lower risk cabinet positions. I think Labour's problem is massive at the moment. Blair may have done some awful shit but at it's essence, it was still Labour in government and not the Tories who seem far more full of self-interest in general (at least today). That Labour government won the biggest majorities in the party history and Blair never lost an election. Despite all their actions in government, they had political savvy in heaps and knew how to use it to stay in government and beat the Tories in the elections. Seems to have completely disappeared these days. Now all the political masterminds are with the Tories actively plotting to destroy other parties (e.g. scapegoating the Lib Dems in the coalition has ruined them as a party for the foreseeable future) whilst the biggest opposition party sits with a thumb up it's arse prepping for election annihilation.

[@beefheart1410]

Röss Lämönt Yes, I largely agree. However, I think that the Blair years were Pyrrhic victories for the Labour Party in all honesty as, I feel the party at that time were, in reality, Tories in Labour's clothing. Remember, the dismantling of the NHS, that we have been going through for the past ten years or so, began under Blair who commenced an implementation of measures against the NHS that would have been unthinkable until that time. Indeed, I don't think the Tories would have actually dared make the initial moves against the NHS In the manner Blair did at that time for no other reasons than popularity. Once a so called "Labour" government had begun the process however, it could be open season for proceeding Conservative governments. Further to this, the kind of "Spin" we now suffer on every obfuscated move made by any of the U.K. mainstream political parties was honed under Blair thus leading to the situation we are in now whereby the three main parties utilise all their energies in attempting to scrabble for the uncontroversial middle ground on every issue possible. The real danger in this continual striving to remain "uncontroversial" of course, is that it leaves important issues un addressed by a sensible and informed elected body politic and subsequently leaves the field open for idiots and extremists like UKIP and the BNP etc, to move in and "offer solutions" to such issues that the politically naïve (or ignorant) will then swallow hook, line and sinker. As such, Brexit can be seen as positive in one particular sense: it is forcing uncomfortable topics back into the dialogue of mainstream politics and thus into an arena that isn't only the purview of the lunatic fringe parties. Things don't go away by ignoring them after all. They fester! In regards to the current Labour Party - and speaking as a life long Labour voter, - I fear they are un-electable as is. This is a paradox for me because Corbyn is the converse of everything I accused Blair of being: ie he is a true, "traditional", Labour politician. My problem with him, and the party under his leadership, is that I fear such politics are 40 years out of date and thus unworkable in the global political arena of the 21st Century. He would have been entirely viable in 1977 but, in 2017?......I can respect him but he presents as a voice in the wilderness. I, personally wouldn't want another Tony Blair leading the party,...... but I don't want a modern twist on Michael Foot leading it either! I don't know......it's a mess!

[@russelledwards001]

the government did publish a dodgy dossier.

[@llamaofvinter5801]

Beefheart1 I'd disagree they were pyrrhic victories under Blair. I think ever since Margaret Thatcher, it's become clear that the UK, or at least England, will never elect a full on left wing government. While Tony Blair was himself more right wing than left, the majority of his cabinet were not and ultimately that is something that must be considered when compared to the Tories, who are on the whole, right wing, not just the leaders. Blair employed Tory tricks to get into power and stay there and you could argue that he did do one or two things you would associate with the Conservatives. However, consider all the other stuff that happened under his government: minimum wage, decreasing NHS wait times, peace in Northern Ireland, entitlement to paternity leave, more doctors and nurses, surestart, winter fuel payments, the right to 24 days paid holiday, banned fox hunting, free breast cancer screening, free nursery places and I'm sure there's some more in there. Point I'm making is that while Blair was a little close to Tory, the Labour Party were implementing policies that were distinctively Labour and designed to help many people rather than save money, cut and generally support the "Well offs". I wouldn't associate the Tories with any of those policies listed and that was the difference for Blair's Labour. He narrowed the gap between left and right, which makes you electable, but when in government did a variety of things that included left wing policies. Can't say the same for the Conservatives, at least to the same extent so you can argue that there is a clear difference. Corbyn's principled but I can't respect a man who doesn't realise he can't win the election and is content to cling on until it's made blindingly clear to all that he's not PM material and loses another 5 years or more because he's hanging on. I mean the man appointed a self-proclaimed Marxist as his shadow chancellor. It's ludicrous! A lot of this is the fault of Ed Miliband. Miliband's changes to party membership rules meant Labour membership grew massively, but it also meant that it took in people who don't reflect Labour as we know it in. Now it's grossly left wing dominated by nuts who weren't part of the party until they were let streaming in by the Unions-backed Ed Miliband (the reason why David Miliband, the obvious choice, did not get the leadership position). The changes to the rules was so poor that Labour has a team of social media scanners who are cross referencing new members with their online profiles to try root out Tories and other political leanings who joined to influence the party but don't represent the values (although ironically, with all the Marxist, left wing, Lenin loving eejits, they've yet to spot a clear group of people who don't belong). A complete failure to vet new members has diluted the party and flooded it with far left fools and smatterings of others who would not represent Labour under the original rules. A sad state of affairs for the biggest opposition party to a relatively unified Tory party by comparison, which is currently doing things that make it incredibly weak and susceptible to opposition attacks, yet because the opposition is not respectable, who would listen. At this point, I don't know who I would vote for. They're all so fucking terrible or public discredited (e.g. Lib Dems, who were really scapegoated by the Tories but the damage has been done) that it makes choosing one near impossible.

[@aidanmca4177]

Captain beefheart fan or what?

[@bagofnails6692]

Cambell does actually make some good points. Mark Kermode was quite unwilling to change his mind or look at the topic from a different angle. The creators did end up saying that Malcolm Tucker wasn't really based on Cambell. If I was Mark I would have asked Cambell if he minded that the movie was going to be close to the public perception of how the politics of the time was viewed, not continually suggest that the movie was an accurate portrayal of those politics.

[@TheDensley7]

I like Kermode a lot, but he was hopelessly outclassed by Campbell.

[@CharlesMansonVEV0]

I don't think so. Kermode asked very incisive questions, and Campbell dodged them very skilfully. Masters at work.

[@miamitten1123]

@@CharlesMansonVEV0 yes....that’s the definition of _”outclassed”_ ....’genius’

[@CharlesMansonVEV0]

​@@miamitten1123 u wot

[@dreamer2260]

@@CharlesMansonVEV0 Nope. Kermode asked questions which revealed his extraordinarily immature view of the world and of politics, and Campbell took it head on and gave him a thorough and well-deserved reprimand.

[@dreamer2260]

Indeed.

[@eddavitt6359]

Thanks for putting this up, read about it and wanted to see it

[@strategossable1366]

8:33 "Did I ever swear in front of George Bush?" Love this

[@Digsidian]

He's absolutely right. The amount of cynics vs skeptics is a disgrace.

[@okihiro22]

I think his point on cynicism in politics has really been vindicated these past years

[@utkarsh2746]

@@okihiro22 Give people a cynical platitude to argue over and they will forget war crimes and the fact that this man just said "all great things that have happened in society are due to politics" Somehow the process of building political concensus for personal gains can be portrayed as an altruistic job responsible for all the good in the world.

[@Stupoider]

@@utkarsh2746 He didn't commit any war crimes, the inquiry cleared him.

[@arc236]

Hear hear.

[@venmis137]

@@utkarsh2746 That's because it is. You can't have a functioning democracy without a political consensus, and building that consensus is fucking hard. The only way for the State (that thing around which the entirety of modern civilisation is based) to achieve things without consensus is force, and personally I don't consider that to be a good way of living.

[@Josh-vg2lj]

the absolute maestro, spin neurosurgeon, the spinoza. He literally spun a review of a movie intended to needle him

[@charlesscott861]

It's a shame that Kermode's attitude was so aggressive towards Cambell. The right questions could have led to some really interesting answers, instead Cambell had to respond to sensationalist statements that are akin to the Tabloid crap he's put up with all his life!

[@dreamer2260]

Exactly.

[@philipkingston6960]

I agree with Campbell throughout most of this interview. He makes some good points.

[@jimmy2k4o]

I know this makes me a minority, but I really admire Cambell and am in thunderous agreement with what he says about the lazy cynical view of politics.

[@syntaxterror9479]

jimmy2k4o he does really make many valid points in his argument here.

[@joseph4861]

+jimmy2k4o I agree, Campbell or venal Tories? Campbell every day of the week.

[@theSPUK901]

jimmy2k4o don't admire his politics at all but he's right about Kermode's cynicism entirely

[@jimmy2k4o]

I'm a conservative BTW, more than the Tories who are lefties. I admire Campbell for Iraq and his Fuck you attitude.

[@theSPUK901]

jimmy2k4o why? That's not a Labour value to follow the most right wing of the representatives of capital in America, i.e. George bush

[@mrwri]

I agree with Malcolm. I mean Alastair.

[@peanuts2105]

I like politics but the way Campbell squirmed while watching this and the dismissing of the film clearly has woken some ghosts. He could see himself in Tucker and he knew it.

[@Momchil92]

I think you're a bit obsessed with your agenda. An idée fixe

[@darrenr49]

I think he saw a lack of humanity in the characters and that's why he felt it was a cartoon. But in reality it is a comedy and only the great comedies (like only fools and horses) manage to depict true human experience with all the good/bad and stuff that goes with it.

[@jimmy2k4o]

Fuck off you wanna-be armchair behavioural psychologist.

[@TheValeyard92]

@@jimmy2k4o Ah, the crossest man in Scotland.

[@kmm2442]

Really insightful. Surprising how little each sees where the other is coming from.

[@slaterssk]

This is a fascinating discussion, Campbell defends himself well and is right to call out Kermodes' cynicism.

[@narcher91]

The difference between in the loop and the thick of it is the war, he couldn't say he found that funny.

[@NikolaAvramov]

Nick Archer He creates wars and portrays victims as aggressors. Would anyone who takes it seriously do something like that?

[@FindThePattern]

+Nick Archer Indeed. He should have said it was unforeseeable.

[@NikolaAvramov]

***** I bet you would find it hilarious if you've been watching people get cancer all around you because of depleted uranium dropped using the excuse his spin campaign made.

[@cox827]

Campbell is absolutely right

[@keithmorgan3929]

Huge Freudian slip, when AC said "There was one bit where I said" not "There was one bit where Tucker said"!!

[@eliotmccann2589]

Alaister won this.

[@Conquestidore]

Malcolm Tucker would have won as well, it doesn't say much

[@stefmanbrett91]

It just proves he is Malcolm tucker

[@hogikat42]

When I started watching this I assumed that I would come out despising Campbell, but he strikes me as a profoundly intelligent and pragmatic man. He raises important points about journalism and the media industry, especially the smug cynicism that defines the BBC, among others. Furthermore, we can see the effects of this attitude in society today, with the apathetic, sneering masses who don't give a fig about politics. If only people would hold justifiable opinions without being egotistical

[@dreamer2260]

Well said. Sadly, too many are persuaded by the Tory media to hate people like Campbell without actually giving them a chance.

[@DonRustone]

11 years on from that comment and nothing really has changed sadly

[@jwl00066]

this is an awesome interview for people who are interested both in movies and politics. the interviewer clearly believes movies and fictional depictions have a power to bring light on real issues and focus people’s attention on specific aspects of real life. the interviewee(the politician) dismisses the seriousness of fictional work and poses the question of responsibility that the broadcasting industry is willingly ignorant of regarding the influences that chronic cynicism might have on the public. the latter has a better point though, in hindsight. in the loop came out over a decade ago and that cynicism has spread so much since then. people ridicule politics and those in the field while themselves not committing or contributing to much if anything. everyone wants to be a snarky artist who talks reductively about politics; that’s fashionable, but no one wants to risk being the one who does the things that could really change policies and laws.

[@SnorkyO]

Capaldi said it he is also partly based on Peter Mandelson

[@dennybm]

6:20 - 7:05 Kermode getting Tuckered (or Campbelled)

[@KSIOjedibt]

Kermode asked questions you would expect from a 16/17 year old, and said a lot of ignorant stuff that he didn't even seem to think about before saying.

[@possessedslig]

What was the worst swearing you ever did? *Cringe*

[@dreamer2260]

Exactly. Embarrassingly politically illiterate, but very judgmental and self-assured at the same time. Kermode came across very poorly.

[@limey625]

God, Kermode, your hands are massive!

[@bourgeoistrash]

All I can imagine is Malcolm Tucker watching this interview and being happy with the way Campbell handled it. In other words, it was a perfect interview for him and other politicians, and a pointless one for the BBC. He did have a good point about the Brritish media though - we do have a tendency to take the piss out of whoever is in charge, regardless of our personal opinion of them.

[@chalkeygas93]

Really interesting point Campbell made about scepticism v cynicism, especially in light of the last ten years. Must say it seems valid in 2020

[@dreamer2260]

Yep. He's generally been bang on for years, and this is a particular, massive issue we've had with public attitudes to politics for ages now, which has just ceded the ground to the right and delivered us a decade of disastrous Tory rule.

[@FelixJM89]

I’m a big fan of Kermode who I think is brilliant and whose views on the world I strongly agree with. Never liked Campbell or his legacy or the things I’ve heard about him. Kermode clearly agrees and I respect the fact that he went for Campbell in the way that he did rather than just playing nice. But Campbell’s response here was brilliantly well put and very convincing. He’s a scarily intelligent man. It doesn’t make me like him any more but I can’t deny it was impressive.

[@ThepigandThemonkey]

Yeah but was that born out of the general populations cynicism and lack of political engagement

[@Schmitty7546]

I've always found Kermode a bit pompous and limited honestly. I know that sounds like a troll-y, cheap comment... but it's honestly what I think whenever I listen to him - most of the time. I think his influence on popular British film criticism has been rather unfortunate.

[@bokehintheussr5033]

The jokes on kermode here because he seems to think in the loop is some sort of heavily researched historical docudrama and not in actual fact a satire. He totally handed the high ground to campbell there.

[@helloworld0911]

Alistair Campbell's is a brilliant spin doctor!

[@strav12]

Very clever interview from Mark - got him to shadow Tucker and loved it when he asked what his worst swear words were - ha!

[@99taylj]

As much as I find Alistair Campbell's previous conduct a bit questionable, I have to admit that he's right on the money in his taking down of Mark Kermode. Seems to be this prevailing attitude that it's cool to be lazy and apathetic and say things like 'all politicians are the same' and 'no point in voting, same thing no matter who gets in'. Even if this is true, an apathetic and poorly informed electorate is playing right in the hand of those you so harshly condemn. Wake the fuck up!

[@Huvpalto]

Watching an interviewer try to gaslight a master spin doctor into admitting the movie somehow exposed him is hilarious and embarrassing

[@svenm711]

AC: "Did I ever swear in front of George Bush?"

[@SevenSpringsStudios]

Really good to hear Alistair Campbell talk about the importance of politics

[@Curelax]

All I fpund in this video was that Cambell's mannerisms are eerily simmilar to tucker's

[@darrenr49]

As an individual I like Alastair and seems like a fair and honest guy. Though I understand mistakes were made and I hope he has faced up to them, but I can't judge him even if he hasn't. Why would i?

[@bleu2680]

Cos he killed loads of people and hasn't apologised lol

[@Laser82]

I like Alister Campbell and think the show was funny. It doesn't reflect him at all. It's just satire. Fair comment from Alister

[@GetOverIt2]

I love Mark Kermode's big question is like "What's the worst swearing you ever did?" like you'd feel really naughty saying at primary school

[@MattMeNotYou]

Summarised the intellectual level of the whole interview on his behalf. I just realised I'm replying to a comment made ten years ago!

[@dreamer2260]

@@MattMeNotYou Indeed. Embarrassingly juvenile from Kermode.

[@HappyBirthday0707]

Trust me. Every answer Campbell gives to questions he answers in front of a camera is run through his internal filter to ensure it fits the narrative he’s trying to portray. Whether it’s about himself, his role in the government, the world at large, whatever. He’s a flawless communicator. That’s not to say you shouldn’t believe what he says. But you should assess it against what you know the facts are. Don’t blame him for dancing round an answer. Be smart enough to spot it and know what the lie of the land is.

[@mehello6656]

This is such a based and straight down the middle response, very balanced but still to the point. People need to realise u don’t have to be on one extreme or the other. U can just glide through the middle and often make it to the top. The problem with these guys (malcom and alistar) they were too extreme (in the sense that they wanted too much power, too quickly). Therefore, like many powerful leaders of the worlds history their demises were impactful and loud but still inevitable.

[@mehello6656]

@joe Cockerline

[@TomatoNanny]

"Campbell dismissed the film as boring but he did so with the kind of studied attempt at insouciance you might usually associate with a 14-year-old boy calling a girl who's just rejected him fat and ugly". Chris Addison, New Statesman, 2nd August 2010. He's right.

[@p.atrick.]

is there a source for this? cant find it anywhere and i want to read this it sounds interesting

[@joeb2487]

Say what you will about Campbell; he was, and is, a great spin doctor. He'll make you agree with him and then half an hour later think, "That devious bastard."

[@EdDueim]

He may be a manipulative, devious psychopath, but he is extremely charming when you get to meet him.

[@ManEaterFromReading]

HAHA this is brilliant... Alastair is spinning it!! It's fabulous

[@asdfqwerzxcv6]

I have the DVD of In the Loop and it contains an interview in which Peter Capaldi himself states that Malcolm Tucker is not based on Alastair Campbell. The movie and the TV series it came from are both satires of modern British Government as a whole.

[@Clembo]

That's what I thought, also, Mandelson had that fire in his eye that Capaldi maintains every second he is on camera.

[@TERMINATIONBLISS08]

So a journalist and a spin doctor meet to discuss ethics It went exactly how you’d imagine

[@onebaddayaway]

Campbell's "player-king" moment. Very typical tactical response to Kermode's reasonable question: - Straw-man the argument, in this case responding as if Kermode was criticising the concept of politics, rather than the current (post-Blair era) perception and vapid state of politics. - Blame the media - Give a condescending speech about responsibility It almost brings a tear of nostalgia to the eye. Can't believe all the "dodgy dossier" / Hutton whitewash business was over a decade ago.

[@jimbob5b200]

Thick of it is much better than the movie Fair play Campbell

[@samdoesvids1339]

Jesus, how did I end up coming out of this disliking Mark and liking Alastair, I was not expecting that!

[@dreamer2260]

Because Campbell is in the right, and spoke with eloquence, passion and principle.

[@JoeJones3001]

Because Campbell is a master of the lie by omission. You don't listen to what he's saying, you listen for what he's not saying and that's the real truth

[@dreamer2260]

@@JoeJones3001 A nice meaningless pseudo-intellectual platitude there.

[@TheStooge92]

master of spin

[@TulseLuper]

Interesting how hardly anyone notices that Alastair Campbell isn't really reviewing the film; he's reviewing himself.

[@sadaasdafa8635]

I certainly don't support Labour, but I do think Alistair has a point here. Our view of how politics is very impersonal, shaped by television and newspapers, and most of us, including myself, probably don't quite understand exactly how mind-numbingly complicated it is to run an entire country, balancing what they perceive to be what people want, and what people need.

[@sadaasdafa8635]

Richard PS It's a matter of perspective, I guess. From mine, the Conservatives saved the country's economy while Labour's spending policy would've driven us so much further into debt. But anyway, I didn't want to argue politics. I was just saying that the mentality that politicians are inherently evil is a ridiculous notion that we need to get over.

[@sadaasdafa8635]

Richard PS It's lazy to argue against the irrational notion that politicians are evil by nature?

[@Beery1962]

"I certainly don't support Labour, but I do think Alistair has a point here." Well, you would, because New Labour is Conservative Lite.

[@gman8471]

Campbell was never an elected politician, he used to be Tony Blair's PR chief but left back in 2003. The truth is virtually none of Britain's politicians are ever anything like as frank as he's being here.

[@whophd]

Wow, Alastair Campbell at 6:30 actually has a wholesome and earnest point to make.

[@Boogaloosoo]

Campbell *wishes* Tucker was based on him!! Everybody loves Malcolm Tucker...

[@gman8471]

Campbell: Um... I probably swear more than most. Kermode: Do you? I love how Kermode says that so accusingly, like "Finally you're admitting to something!"

[@Eric-sy1xu]

5:50 Mark Kermode is being stupid here. Sure some politicians are more self-serving than others but the UK in its uncodified constitution has been able to hold them accountable and more equal to the public than a Good number of other countries.

[@gnalkhere]

This needs a 10-year revisit

[@eggymayo3271]

Revisit: Campbell was right the cynics won

[@jamieguthrie1760]

6:02 - that speech... wow, brought tears to my eyes. Go on Campbell!

[@dreamer2260]

Yep. Was truly impressive and well spoken.

[@JS-tg7mw]

its spin to make himself look better, lol. Disparaging the disgusting state of modern politics does not make people think "I don't give a shit about the world" as he tried to state

[@meandshe735]

@@JS-tg7mw elaborate.

[@sbraypaynt]

What an incredible spin for him to imply that such cutting and well written satire is “lazy” and “easy”

[@ayoungconservative1051]

David Kelly. That's all you need to know about Campbell.

[@theSPUK901]

He's right about Kermode's cynicism though

[@arleygomez465]

This is exactly the kind of interview I would expect Malcolm Tucker to give.

[@yingyang1008]

Remember Kermode getting incredibly excited about 'Face OFF'

[@frostyknickers]

I didn't want to, but I agreed with a shockingly large amount of what Alastair Campbell said.

[@phemstros]

I have to say, I'm warming to Alaister

[@MrWillywillmore]

I'm afraid Campbell is right. We never see 99% of what poletics does, and what we do see is decided by the media.

[@dudeglove]

Campbell makes a good point..

[@ELDL1989]

"You picked the bits that actually have nothing to do with politics and don't have you in it?" CLASSIC.

[@idatekatemoss]

From 6:05 Campbell completely owns Kermode.

[@dreamer2260]

Yep. Profound, deeply felt, intelligent. Went straight over the crude, arrogant and judgmental head of Kermode.

[@moses_irl]

I love how he asks himself if he ever swore in front of bush.

[@TT_1221]

The newspapers hated Campbell because he used to be one of them but flipped to the other side so while they were still standing outside Downing Street under umbrellas, Campbell was inside with his own office and staff and attending the Receptions.

[@Rotj6]

I'm amazed he agreed to do this!

[@godribbon]

It's funny watching this now compared to when it was first uploaded. I used to think Campbell was just lying but actually I think it's like when anyone sees their job portrayed in a film, they see all the ways in which it's inaccurate. I can take what he's saying a lot more seriously, that obviously people who go into politics do have some sort of ideal that got them there in the first place

[@Rhademanthus]

Wow, Campbell reminds me of my dad.

[@PeterZeeke]

"did I ever swear in front of George Bush?" he he Campbell stuck up for himself here, that wasa good interview

[@strangecowfilms]

'Did I ever swear in front of George Bush...?' Fantastic stuff.

[@stevenseagull1954]

Just stumbled across this while looking at The Thick of It videos and noticed it's exactly 10 years to the day that it was published :O

[@georgepowell72]

Despite what he may or may not have done, Campbell is a genius.

[@penguinbadgerturkeybear4343]

Abso-Fucking-Lutely! "Difference between a comic and a painting" The Thick Of It was so much better!

[@joyfulzero853]

As in most 30 minute 'sitcoms' it is hard to translate it to feature film length because the pacing goes out of the window.

[@poelmeister]

That part where Campbell says his opinion about politics being venal and crass and how people should not portray it like that or people will stop giving a damn, that, in the light of today's events, really made me think.

[@ezra4554]

That face he pulls after the question at 2:55 is _SO_ Malcom Tucker

[@Mancub2b]

Something tells me that campbell wasnt being totally honest here

[@tomkenning5482]

Hasan Sharif was that something everything he's ever said and done?

[@sibadityapal1493]

If you are actually interested in the pedagogy of political science and law and study or have studied the subjects, you will appreciate that Campbell, however morally reprehensible he may have seemed by the time Brown's government came around, was actually correct in his assertions here.