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| Britain |
| Breaking: The Hutton Enquiry claims its first Government scalp |
| 2003-08-29 |
| The flying mud claims its first victim, and it’s a very big fish: (the unsmiling) half of the Blair symbiont. Alastair Campbell is to resign as the government’s director of communications and strategy. Mr Campbell’s decision was announced by Downing Street shortly after 1430 BST on Friday. He said: "It has been an enormous privilege to work so closely in opposition and in government for someone I believe history will judge as a great transforming prime minister." Nope, sorry. Mr Campbell said his family had paid a price for his role and said his partner, Fiona Millar, would be leaving No 10 at the same time "in a few weeks". Mr Campbell [said] he planned to write, broadcast and make speeches, but did not want to take on "another big job". Tony Blair paid tribute to his media chief, saying he was "an immensely able, fearless, loyal servant of the cause he believes in who was dedicated not only to that cause but to his country ... he was, is, and will remain a good friend." The dramatic announcement comes amid the Hutton inquiry into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly. Mr Campbell gave evidence to the inquiry last week over the BBC report that Downing Street had "sexed up" the Iraq arms dossier. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said Mr Campbell had been talking to him for the last 12 months about resigning. Pure, unadulterated coincidence then... No successor for Mr Campbell has been named and no departure date has been set. Mr Campbell started working with Mr Blair after he became Labour leader in 1994. He became the prime minister’s official spokesman after Labour’s election victory in 1997. He moved to his role as communications director in 2001. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #6 If the EU is completed, won't that make it possible for the French and German governments to transfer their debts to the EU? I think that's the real prize there. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-8-29 5:10:56 PM |
| #5 In essence, you're right, Aris, from your perspective politically and geographically. Blair wants Britain to be at the heart of a workable Europe, in spite of the widespread public opposition to greater European integration. Many pro-European Europeans want to dive in at the deep end, immersing themselves in fiscal unity and a sea of unifying legislation, as they expect the EU will save them from their own inept politicians and systems of government. For us, European relations are a necessity and an asset, but no 'solution' to domestic problems. We don't need the EU, whereas you think you do. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-8-29 1:04:45 PM |
| #4 There exist no significant pro-EU forces in the British political scene; Tony Blair wants Britain to take what could have otherwise been its place in the center of the EU, but his only chances of doing that with the British anti-continental climate is to sabotage the EU until he turns it meaningless. He wants his country to keep up with the EU, but his only chance of doing that is slowing down the rest of the continent, not speeding up his own nation. That's not a pro-EU position. Wanting the EU harmed so that your own nation can keep up isn't a pro-EU position. That's like saying that Al-Qaeda is a humanitarian society because it wants to take down the rest of the world to the level of Afghanistan. (and yeah, yeah, I know I'm making a huge hyperbole here. No accusations of trolling, please, or detailed explanations of how I'm wrong in this point.) The Tories may have a much more honest attitude where the EU is concerned. They will not want to follow the rest of the continent, but hopefully they will not place such big hurdles on our path either. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-8-29 12:50:58 PM |
| #3 Bulldog, the folks at Samizdata have posted things which would imply the humiliation HMG is taking in the Hutton Inquiry and other events will not only fatally wound HMG but also take down the pro-Euro forces. What is your opinion on that? |
| Posted by: Brian 2003-8-29 11:15:55 AM |
| #2 The Tories will go down if they stick to what attack, LH? And go down where?! This is Red Beeb versus Red Blair. I'm rooting for neither. The government were right over the dossier, but Campbell's got his just deserts. There will be very few tears shed in Westminster tonight, especially so in Campbell's own party. All Blair's closest friends and allies have now gone under or fallen on their swords. No more fall guys left... |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-8-29 10:22:19 AM |
| #1 So far its looking like Blair/Campbell were right. I think the BBC will go down on this one, and the tories will go down too if they stick to this attack. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-29 10:11:10 AM |