Excl: a revealing SKWAWKBOX conversation with Alastair Campbell

Earlier today, the SKWAWKBOX wrote to former Blair spin-doctor, arch-remainer and second referendum advocate Alastair Campbell, after Campbell had tweeted an class-based attack on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his team:

Labour’s policy is to respect the result of the 2016 referendum, so the criticism is misplaced – but Campbell’s ‘posh boys’ jibe is interesting, given the prominent role of wealthy and privately-educated centrists at the heart of the arrogantly-titled “people’s vote” campaign.

To his credit – initially at least – Campbell responded at length. But what he refused to answer – and the tone he took – were as revealing as the responses he did provide. The conversation is reproduced below in full, minus extraneous headers. Emphases have been added for this article.

Mr Campbell,

You’ve tweeted an attack this morning on various Labour figures, including ‘posh boy revolutionaries Milne/Murray‘ and others, in what reads like a ‘declaration of war’ on Labour. I’m going to be running a feature very shortly highlighting this tweet alongside some of the key advocates for a so-called people’s vote, as the phrase ‘posh boys’ – and women – would certain apply to a lot of them. The recent image of you alongside David Cameron will feature, for obvious reasons.

If you wish to make any comment for inclusion, please provide it by return and no later than 3pm. You might wish to include your take on:

1. how you think Labour could win a general election if it alienated its leave-supporting voters – or if you don’t think it can, why you think this is acceptable when your and other centrists’ early attacks on Corbyn and his politics were based on the assumption that getting into power was Labour’s chief responsibility
2. why you think “people’s vote” is an acceptable title when people voted the first time, much as you might dislike the result
3.how you think that PV supporters speaking of leave voters as if they were fools or racists to vote leave in 2016 is going to help win them over
4. why PV campaigners are misrepresenting the motion at the last Labour conference as a ‘commitment to campaign for a PV’ when it merely resolves that all options should be kept open
5. whether it’s better to be a ‘posh boy’ who has resolved to fight the fundamental inequality of society, or middle-class who’s actively undermining the Labour Party in the media and on social media

Thanks

Very quickly, Campbell responded – a mix of substantive answers and of sarcasm that appeared to be an attempt to dissuade the blog from using the information. However, no request was made to keep any of the information off the record:

How nice to hear from you. And thank you for putting so much effort into preparing your questions. Given I have a lot on today, (Labour MPs to see, money to raise, my own articles to write) and your editorial line has doubtless already been decided, forgive me if I don’t take too much of my time to reply. I do have ten minutes with my Pret chicken rice and broccoli soup however to be able to pen a few thoughts for you.

I’m sure given your commitment to fact-based journalism (this is a presumption, not knowing much about you, forgive me if I am wrong) that you will make clear in the reference to David Cameron (who yes is very much in the posh boy mould and possibly even as wealthy as Mr Murray) that he and I arrived separately to take part in a charity fundraiser for Bloodwise, which I have supported in various capacities since my closest friend was killed by leukaemia in the 80s. Being a man of the people I had travelled by tube and arrived at the church on foot just as Mr Cameron’s car arrived. He and his protection officers stepped out at the same time as I arrived, happily for tour picture editor no doubt (again I am making assumptions, that picture editor remains a post in this brave new media world.)

Also please be aware that far from declaring war on Labour I am pressing the leadership to oppose a policy – Mrs May’s Brexit – which will do enormous damage to the people Labour has historically done a great deal to support. I also believe that a clearer and more robust approach on Brexit, far from losing support for Labour, will increase it. Even you, though clearly much in love with the leader, must find it odd that the worst government and prime minister in our lifetime continue to lead Jeremy Corbyn  and Labour in many of the polls. Perhaps I was spoiled when working for Labour in opposition in the 90s, when our lead went as high as 30 points, but even so ….  this might help frame your coverage of the current state of Labour’s campaign.

I should also point out that the only people I ever hear saying that Leave voters voted out of ignorance or racism are people such as yourself and Nigel Farage who wish to make it an issue. I certainly have never done so. Nor would I. Indeed I understand many of the reasons why people voted Leave. Yet I also know the problems behind many of those votes will not he helped by Brexit. You also make an extraordinarily patronising point – to the public – in imagining they are some kind of homogenous mass. Many are not changing their views. Many are, in all sorts of directions. But I fail to see how it can ever be anti democratic to check with the public whether what is being offered by the government and Parliament is what they want.  
I hope this is helpful to you in your continuing coverage of this vital debate. And I hope you don’t feel too uncomfortable in seeming to share a political bed with Rees-Mogg, Johnson and Farage in your apparent belief that Brexit means Brexit whatever the costs, chaos or  consequences. 

People’s Vote. A campaign of the people. By the people. For the people. 
Brexit. An ideological project of the right. By the right. For the right.

Tara Chuck. 

Campbell did not, however, answer the following questions put to him in the original email:

2. why you think “people’s vote” is an acceptable title when people voted the first time, much as you might dislike the result
4. why PV campaigners are misrepresenting the motion at the last Labour conference as a ‘commitment to campaign for a PV’ when it merely resolves that all options should be kept open
5.whether it’s better to be a ‘posh boy’ who has resolved to fight the fundamental inequality of society, or middle-class who’s actively undermining the Labour Party in the media and on social media

This was pointed to him, along with a small set of follow-up questions. Where these related specifically to his own comments, his remarks are shown in italics above the follow-up question. Again, bold emphasis has been added for this article:

Alastair, fascinating response. Thank you for being so prompt.
As you managed to find the time to craft such a detailed reply, perhaps you could answer a couple of follow-ups?

1. “I also believe that a clearer and more robust approach on Brexit, far from losing support for Labour, will increase it.“

Yet you must be well aware that the increase will largely come in areas Labour would hold anyway – and the losses will come in seats it either needs to keep or win. More votes in London, for example, will do little to move Labour closer to power. Losses in places like Middlesbrough South or Lincoln would move us further away.

2. “Even you, though clearly much in love with the leader, must find it odd that the worst government and prime minister in our lifetime continue to lead Jeremy Corbyn  and Labour in many of the polls.“

Personally, I find nothing odd about this at all. It’s what you’d expect with an implacably-hostile media and a large portion of MPs – not to mention former figures of influence such as yourself – constantly painting the party as unelectable. The surge when general election rules applied to media coverage supports this view. Do you disagree?

3. Do you really, seriously think that the tone taken by PV-advocates doesn’t suggest that those who voted leave and still want to leave are deficient?

4. Which do you think is worse – a UK in the EU under Tory government, or out of the EU under Labour?

Also, you didn’t answer my questions 2, 4 or 5 in the original enquiry, I’d appreciate a response on those please.

Also, isn’t it bullying to attack employees who can’t speak out to defend themselves?

In contrast to his first, lengthy response, the follow-up email probing the substance of his stance and claims met only with:

Sorry. Been in meetings all pm. 

You’ve had your lot.

‘Can’t answer back!’  – per-leese!!

A final attempt was made to get a meaningful response:

Didn’t say ‘can’t answer back’, so not sure why you put that in quotes. But are you denying that party employees aren’t free to comment themselves to rebut attacks on them?

The response:

You’re boring me now.

SKWAWKBOX comment:

Alastair Campbell clearly has a set of stock responses to justify his position – and given the state of most mainstream political shows, they will get him by.

However, once those answers were probed for substance – or lack of it – and when questions were asked about the electoral consequences of a campaign for a new referendum or he was asked to justify his disparaging comments about Labour figures or his own associations, the meaningful conversation ended.

It was also interesting that Campbell dismissed the idea that he and others touting a new referendum treat leave voters as racists or idiots – yet he immediately resorted to snide comments comparing what he presumed is the leave position of the SKWAWKBOX to Boris Johnson, Rees-Mogg and Farage. His own alignment with the position of Tony Blair did not seem to trouble him.

Critics of the ‘FBPE’/second-referendum fundamentalists frequently accuse them of an obsession with middle-class problems and a lack of understanding of the lives and concerns of people suffering under the predations of the Tory government.

Sadly, there was no cause for optimism that the SKWAWKBOX could discern in Campbell’s responses – or lack of them – of such empathy developing or even of a recognition of the problem.

For an understanding of the perspective of working-class communities that voted – and still want – to leave the EU, see the important guest post by South Yorkshire union activist Andy Searson, published yesterday.

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