Goodbye....
August 29, 2003 9:23 AM   Subscribe

Alastair Campbell quits. Downing Street media chief Alastair Campbell is to step down, it has been announced. His resignation is said not to be related to the Hutton inquiry into the death of government weapons expert Dr David Kelly.
posted by MintSauce (12 comments total)
 
His resignation is said not to be related to the Hutton inquiry into the death of government weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Of course it's not.
posted by Slothrup at 11:28 AM on August 29, 2003


Ha ha!
[/Nelson Muntz]

Good riddance to the little weasel. Don't f*ck with Auntie ya creep.
posted by i_cola at 11:34 AM on August 29, 2003


Please tell me you're kidding, i_cola.
posted by swerdloff at 12:04 PM on August 29, 2003


It's been common knowledge that Ali was going to quit to follow his wife (another spin doctor) for several months now. This really doesn't have anything to do with the Hutton Inquiry.
posted by influx at 12:13 PM on August 29, 2003


Swerdloff, you're not suggesting you're UPSET that Campbell's gone, are you? He was the epitome of spin, an unaccountable and unelected executive who apparently had more control over events in our government than the average MP.

Reports suggest he actually helped shape policy and contribute to political documents (it was a member of his team who cribbed that so-called 'dodgy dossier'). Campbell lived by the media sword, controlling the press with his pitbull temper... and now he's dying by the sword. It seems perfectly fair to me.
posted by skylar at 12:13 PM on August 29, 2003


No. I'm not talking about Campbell.

I'm talking about the "don't fuck with Auntie" comment.

The Beeb is a pet peeve of mine. They're as biased as Fox News, but maintain the patina of respectability with their legacy, now debased, of quality reporting.
posted by swerdloff at 1:13 PM on August 29, 2003


skylar: The difference about Campbell's position has been that a) it has been open and honest and b) the English press has maliciously attacked him in a way that they have never attacked anyone in a similar position in the past.

swerdloff: Do you have anything to back up your ludicrous claim of BBC bias (hopefully not the usual narrow complaints from those that feel that the BBC has 'reported against them', e.g. some Israeli groups).

P.S. I call Newsfilter ;<)
posted by daveg at 1:23 PM on August 29, 2003


They're as biased as Fox News, but maintain the patina of respectability with their legacy, now debased, of quality reporting.
I'm sorry but that is just crazy talk. With a news gathering organisation as large as the BBC you will always see plenty of opinions there that oppose your own view and that is about the only reason I can see for the continuous ludicrous accusations of bias. Last night at around 11pm on Newsnight, Ian Duncan Smith continued to suggest that there was a pro Labour bias on the BBC, that the DG and chairman were Labour cronies. On the Today programme this morning at around 7:45am some Labour guy (I forget who) complained live on air that the BBC were guilty of collusion with the Tories to discredit the Labour party! If you don't believe me, the recordings are probably available on the BBC web site (although if it were up to the Tories those recordings probably wouldn't be available ;-)). It's pathetic. There are some legitimate arguments for where the BBC can improve it's performance, but bias isn't one of them.
posted by chill at 1:58 PM on August 29, 2003


If anything the BBC has gone out of its way in recent years to eradicate the once-strong establishment bias prevalent in its news operations. The TV news service has been greatly dumbed down in what must be an attempt to increase its appeal to the tabloid-reading masses, but the radio (esp. Radio 4) and web-based news services are second to none. I challenge swerdloff to name a less biased news source anywhere in the world.

Re the Campbell resignation, this is old news. It was announced months ago that he would be stepping down.
posted by cbrody at 5:02 PM on August 29, 2003


swerdloff: Partly kidding yes. But please don't give me that 'BBC is biased' line. What the BBC News is about is being balanced. There will be biases but the point is to present a balance.
posted by i_cola at 12:44 AM on August 30, 2003


Those fulminating about 'spin' (including most of today's press) possibly don't remember the situation for all of the eighties and early nineties. Labour couldn't open it's mouth without a generalised mendacious pile-on from Fleet Street, dedicated to ensuring there was never another Labour government ever. For putting an end to this, thank you Alistair Campbell, you will be missed.
posted by grahamwell at 9:38 AM on August 30, 2003


Not if I can help it! *reloads*
posted by dash_slot- at 4:35 PM on August 30, 2003


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