Campbell, Alastair

(1957– )

   A former political correspondent with the Daily Mirror who became a close adviser to Neil Kinnock but eventually more well known for his services to Tony Blair. One of the architects of New Labour, he played an important role in the run-up to the 1997 election, working with Peter Mandelson to coordinate Labour’s campaign. Then and thereafter, he intervened personally to complain whenever media outlets ran stories which he felt to be unfavourable to the leader or party. After the election, Campbell became the Director of Communications and Strategy for Ten Downing Street, having responsibility for the government’s press machine. He assumed a role of considerable behind-the-scenes influence, often directing civil servants who were used to taking instructions only from government ministers. He was viewed with suspicion, even hostility, by elements within the party, though few questioned his skill in the arts of news management. He became embroiled in controversy in the build-up to and aftermath of the Iraq war, being a central figure in the ‘dodgy dossier’ episode and then later being accused by Andrew Gilligan of having ‘sexed up’ the Government’s case for war in its earlier dossier. Lord Hutton cleared Campbell of acting improperly, but the report was widely seen as a ‘whitewash’. Campbell resigned shortly afterwards, although he surfaced again as – in effect but not in title – Labour’s director of communications during the 2005 election campaign.

   See also: Hutton Report