Alastair Campbell testifies at Leveson inquiry
Ex-Daily Mirror political editor and spin doctor Alastair Campbell returns to the Leveson inquiry to discuss politicians and their relationship with the “putrid” media he now distances himself from.
Mr Campbell, a journalist, book author and self-described “communicator”, is to appear at the Leveson inquiry into media standards on Monday to discuss politicians, the press and political spin doctors.
Mr Campbell, head of communications at 10 Downing Street during the second Iraq War, is best known as former prime minister Tony Blair’s spokesman and is arguably the best-known press secretary in the UK. He previously appeared before MPs investigating whether the Labour government exaggerated the case for invading Iraq, and has already testified at the Leveson inquiry.
The inquiry is also to hear on Monday from former cabinet secretary Lord O’Donnell, who oversaw the vetting process for civil servants including Prime Minister David Cameron’s ex-communications adviser Andy Coulson, who sat in on top-level meetings although he had a low level of security clearance.
As the inquiry considers the relationship between the media and politicians, former home secretary Jack Straw is also scheduled to appear on Wednesday.
‘Putrid press’
Mr Campbell is expected to take the stand first. He rose to became political editor of the Daily Mirror but turned on fellow journalists during his last appearance before Lord Justice Leveson, describing parts of the media as the “putrid” press.
Mr Campbell has already submitted 55 pages of written evidence to the inquiry on press standards, saying that while “good journalists are still in the majority”, competitive pressure are having a severe impact on media ethics”.
Blaming managers who tried to save money by cutting staff, he said the press was “frankly putrid in many of its elements”.
Mr Campbell, who suspects his own phone had been hacked by the Murdoch-owned News of the World newspaper, said he has been visited by officers from Operation Tuleta, the police inquiry into phone hacking, who briefed him on computer hacking.
Cherie Blair leak
He also indicated that a phone belonging to Cherie Blair’s assistant may have been hacked, citing leaks about Cherie Blair’s pregnancy while living at 10 Downing Street.
Mr Campbell is no stranger to the courts, having testified at the inquiry into the death of weapons inspector Dr David Kelly and about the so-called “dodgy dossier” which made the case for Britain to invade Iraq. Mr Campbell has always maintained the document was accurate and not “sexed up” to gain support for the invasion.