Alastair Campbell Mystery Revealed

[olddutch]

Alastair Campbell twitters re his appearance on last nights Question Time

“Question Time over. Mystery revealed as to why there was no minister. Govt said would not field if I was the Labour voice. Pathetic”

“John Redwood did better job than any ministers would have done. Piers very heavy on the Eds re Iraq”


Al Campbell snubbed by Coalition - then praises John Redwood - whatever next ?

[jno]

No 10 is quite right to refuse to go on programmes if the only 'balance' the BBC provides is the non-elected scuzzball Campbell. Good for them.

[Haggisdj]

Here is the BBC's response, http://news.bbc.co.uk...litics/8709930.stm?ls

[Twenty20]

Alastair Campbell really is the most obnoxious person around. If Labour want to find a way back with the electorate they need to ditch people like this.

[Ric.ror]

Well done Alistair Campbell and the BBC for, at last, finding a backbone

[olddutch]

Thanks for link Haggisdj

It was wrong of Question Time to have allowed Alistair Campbell to take the place of an elected representative, although he could have been included AS WELL AS one. So I fully understand the coalition reaction. Who would enter into such a programme knowing that there were, in effect, two spin doctors as the opposition who have various axes to grind but none of the responsibilities that election places on them. The BBC might have been upholding a point of principle, but it has sullied its name in so doing, and appears to be biased toward Labour. A sad day for principle.

Downing Street was right. If Labour can't field a front-bench spokesperson (preferably elected), then why should the Coalition ? Aside from this, Campbell's record as a manipulator of democracy (most notably re the Iraq dossier) and his behaviour re David Kelly, makes him someone I would prefer to see less on our screens.

[anotheoldgit]

Alistair Campbell labelled the Government's refusal to field a Cabinet Minister on the BBC's Question Time as 'absolutely pathetic'.

I did not hear him condemn Labours attitude against Nick Griffins appearance on a past Question Time.

The BBC slipped up, they should have invited Adam Boulton onto last night's show. I Somehow think it would then have been Campbell who would have declined to appear.

[OrcadianOil]

Can't believe the venom being spewed on here over the appearance of Alistair Campbell - the rest of the panel was a mish mash of disparate individuals:

The only elected politician, John Redwood's a Tory maverick.
Susan Kramer, a Lib Dem, failed to be re-elected in the GE.
Max Hastings, a boring old f*rt and ex hack.
Piers Morgan, a boring younger f*rt of a talent show panellist.

So, at least get it right, people. I'm no A.C. fan, but his credentials to be on QT last night were far superior to most of the above motley crew. Fair dos.

Incidentally, it was QT chairman David Dimbleby who read out at the beginning that the Coalition had allegedly refused to appear on the basis that AC was on the panel, and the fact that the Beeb had refused to back down on that is, in my opinion, a triumph for democracy, instead of giving into the whim and dictatorship of the fledgling regime now ruling our country.

Some posters on here so far ought to take a good look at themselves - if their intolerance will allow.

[jno]

like Campbell or not, OracadianOil, Cameron has every right to decide he doesn't want to appear with him. I'm not a Cameron fan (and I am a BBC fan), but in this case he's right. The BBC can invite anyone they choose. Cameron can reject any invitation he chooses. That too is democracy.

[OrcadianOil]

jno,
I have literally no allegiance to anyone on last night's QT, but you are clearly biased against Campbell for a start, so I don't need bigots preaching at me, pal. To refer to the man as a "scuzzball", whatever that made up insult is meant to be, is just exceptionally childish. You were probably also one of those "democrats" hiss booing Griffen of the BNP when he appeared on the programme a few months back.

If any Government, no matter its shade, ducks its responsibilities on a flagship political programme without just cause, it does Joe Public a massive disservice - like a brattish toddler stamping its foot in defiance and pique.

Campbell might not be everyone's cup of tea, but he is a highly experienced political strategist whose views and opinions were as valid as Cameron's, Clegg's, Brown's, Harmon's, or indeed all of the others on last night's panel.

For the Government of the day to fail to provide a minister, Tory or Liberal, reflects very badly on them indeed. Childish, childish, childish, and very un-British.

[jno]

I haven't made up scuzzball. If you want to know why I used it, remember David Kelly, as olddutch suggests.

http://www.urbandicti...ne.php?term=scuzzball

And it takes a lot more than dislike of a spin doctor to make anyone a bigot

http://wordnetweb.pri...du/perl/webwn?s=bigot

It's nice if a government sends a representative to on political programmes, but it has no responsibility to do so, and the BBC has no right to demand that it do so. They will however be called on to defend their policies in parliament before other elected representatives, and that's way more democratic than appearing on telly alongside the likes of Piers Morgan.

I'm not your pal.

[craft1948]

With Campbell on the panel it would have made more 'interesting' viewing if Quentin Letts had been on in place of Piers Morgan.

[OrcadianOil]

jno,
Look, pal, don't give it if you can't take it. You're quite prepared to badmouth someone but get all defensive when taken to task about it. Grow up.

[zita-green]

I think it's an own goal by the coalition. Looks like they were too scared to face Campbell. We can't have the BBC accepting an ultimatum from politicians.

[anotheoldgit]

Quote by OrcadianOil :

/// Can't believe the venom being spewed on here ///

///the rest of the panel was a mish mash of disparate individuals///

/// Max Hastings, a boring old f*rt and ex hack.///

/// Piers Morgan, a boring younger f*rt of a talent show panellist. ///

/// far superior to most of the above motley crew. ///

/// dictatorship of the fledgling regime now ruling our country.///

/// so I don't need bigots preaching at me, pal.///

"Can't believe the venom being spewed on here."?????? The biggest percentage by yourself it would appear.

[deggers316]

whats wrong with cambell
hes a briilant man at his job

[OrcadianOil]

anotheoldgit,
Try defining the word "venomous" before erroneously taking my sentences out of context.

[Davethedog]

Like him or loath him Alistair Campbell is a skilled an knowledgable political stratagist.

Fit ot pique.

Lack of backbone more like.

[piggynose]

this is far more entertaining than QT.
hope it continues for a while longer

[anotheoldgit]

OrcadianOil

/// Try defining the word "venomous" before erroneously taking my sentences out of context. ///

Venomous : malicious, spiteful, a venomous remark.

Seems your sentences are completely in context.