Jimmy

The moment Alastair Campbell breaks down and can barely breathe under questioning on Iraq. I’ve watched Alastair Campbell for years. The ultimate tough spin doctor. I’ve seen him rattled before — furious, arguing, on the attack — but this is different. I’ve never seen him like this. It’s surreal. February 2010, The Andrew Marr Show. Marr presses him hard on Iraq: “If beyond doubt was not established in the intelligence… does it then follow – yes or no – that the Prime Minister misled parliament?” Campbell: “The Prime Minister didn’t mislead parliament.” Marr again: “Even if the intelligence… does not confirm that assertion that it was beyond reasonable doubt?” And then it happens. Campbell stops. Completely. He can barely breathe. Looks away. Struggles for air. Long, painful silence. “Yes because… Look, as I said… I mean forgive me for this.” I’ve never seen him fazed like this. He finally continues, still visibly shaken, then has the shameless nerve to lecture about “truth”: “I don’t think people are interested in the truth anymore, Andrew. I think you’re all interested in settling your scores and setting your own agenda.” Marr then brings up the hundreds of thousands of dead. Campbell’s response? Double down that Blair was a “totally honourable man” who never misled anyone. The same man who helped sell the war sits there falling apart on live television… then has the gall to accuse everyone else of not caring about the truth.