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Alastair Campbell expelled from Labour Party | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Tony Blair's former spin doctor says he has been expelled from the Labour Party after voting for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections. | Tony Blair's former spin doctor says he has been expelled from the Labour Party after voting for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections. |
Alastair Campbell, a lead campaigner for another Brexit referendum, said he was "sad and disappointed". | Alastair Campbell, a lead campaigner for another Brexit referendum, said he was "sad and disappointed". |
He said he voted Lib Dem "to try to persuade Labour to do the right thing", but "always will be Labour" and appeal. | |
A Labour spokesman said supporting another party was "incompatible with membership". | |
Mr Campbell revealed he had voted Lib Dem during the BBC's election night broadcast on Sunday. | Mr Campbell revealed he had voted Lib Dem during the BBC's election night broadcast on Sunday. |
Following his expulsion, in a series of tweets, Mr Campbell said there was "plenty of precedent of members voting for other parties/causes" and that some were now senior staff. | Following his expulsion, in a series of tweets, Mr Campbell said there was "plenty of precedent of members voting for other parties/causes" and that some were now senior staff. |
He claimed the decision also "contrasts with our era" when Mr Blair was "pressed" to withdraw the Labour whip from Jeremy Corbyn for voting against the party - but the then PM said no. | He claimed the decision also "contrasts with our era" when Mr Blair was "pressed" to withdraw the Labour whip from Jeremy Corbyn for voting against the party - but the then PM said no. |
He also added that it was "hard not to point out difference in the way anti-Semitism cases have been handled" on the day the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched an investigation into allegation in the party. | He also added that it was "hard not to point out difference in the way anti-Semitism cases have been handled" on the day the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched an investigation into allegation in the party. |
Who is Alastair Campbell? | Who is Alastair Campbell? |
Mr Campbell was a political journalist before coming to prominence in Whitehall as a key member of the Labour PM's staff in 1994. | Mr Campbell was a political journalist before coming to prominence in Whitehall as a key member of the Labour PM's staff in 1994. |
He served as Mr Blair's chief press secretary until 2000 and was a controversial figure, heavily involved in policy, including over the Iraq War. | He served as Mr Blair's chief press secretary until 2000 and was a controversial figure, heavily involved in policy, including over the Iraq War. |
Since leaving government, he has opened up about his struggles with depression and alcoholism, and works with a number of charities. | Since leaving government, he has opened up about his struggles with depression and alcoholism, and works with a number of charities. |
He also campaigns for the People's Vote and is the editor of The New European magazine. | He also campaigns for the People's Vote and is the editor of The New European magazine. |
Labour MPs have taken to Twitter to criticise the move. | Labour MPs have taken to Twitter to criticise the move. |
Jess Phillips, who represents Birmingham Yardley, tweeted that Mr Campbell was "expelled quicker than a man who threatened to kill me [and] quicker than a man in my [local party] who denied the Holocaust", adding: "Both are only still suspended." | Jess Phillips, who represents Birmingham Yardley, tweeted that Mr Campbell was "expelled quicker than a man who threatened to kill me [and] quicker than a man in my [local party] who denied the Holocaust", adding: "Both are only still suspended." |
Barking MP and campaigner against anti-Semitism Margaret Hodge said the party's "priorities are all wrong", | |
And former Lord Chancellor in Mr Blair's government, Lord Charles Falconer, said Mr Campbell was "Labour through and through", adding: "Voting [Lib Dem] once in a lifetime on one issue should not lead to expulsion." | And former Lord Chancellor in Mr Blair's government, Lord Charles Falconer, said Mr Campbell was "Labour through and through", adding: "Voting [Lib Dem] once in a lifetime on one issue should not lead to expulsion." |
But Labour activist and commentator Owen Jones questioned why there was "controversy" over his expulsion, adding: "The rule is, if you say you're voting for another party, you auto exclude yourself. | But Labour activist and commentator Owen Jones questioned why there was "controversy" over his expulsion, adding: "The rule is, if you say you're voting for another party, you auto exclude yourself. |
"Those arguing this rule shouldn't apply to Alastair Campbell do so because they agree with him and for no other reason." | "Those arguing this rule shouldn't apply to Alastair Campbell do so because they agree with him and for no other reason." |