Alastair Campbell was a key player in facilitating the illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq. Yet in spite of his role in Iraq’s devastation, he remained in the Labour Party.
But now, it seems the party has finally expelled him. And his exit has sent waves of celebration across social media.
Good riddance!
Campbell has been a high-profile supporter of the campaign to remain in the EU. And his open disagreement with Labour’s efforts to respect the 2016 Brexit referendum results has apparently led to his expulsion from the party.
On 28 May, he tweeted that Labour had expelled him via email. And he explained why, saying:
I voted Lib Dem, without advance publicity, to try to persuade Labour to do right thing for country/party.
While many Twitter users thought Labour should have expelled him a long time ago, a key sentiment was one of ‘good riddance’:
https://twitter.com/davethered55/status/1133350478190977024
Alastair Campbell's 'sexed up' dossier started the Iraq war and left a million dead.
Being kicked out of the party is the least he deserves.
— Momentum 🌹 (@PeoplesMomentum) May 28, 2019
Alastair Campbell is a typical Londoncentric ‘media-friendly’ careerist – he’s no friend of the vast majority of Labour’s huge membership
— Martyn Ware 🦉 (@martynware) May 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/JackDunc1/status/1133351433187856385
Alistair Campbell did not get expelled for voting Lib Dem but for promoting another party (an austerity enabling party at that) & warning people not to vote Labour. We don’t tell people how to vote but our rules prevent support of candidates opposed to labour during an election 1
— Maria D #ChosePeace (@Maria4CarmsEast) May 28, 2019
Campbell’s fellow Iraq war architect Tony Blair, also a high-profile Remain supporter, is another figure whom many feel has long been undermining the Labour Party’s current leadership and deserves expulsion. Like others on the right of the organisation, he has openly encouraged people to vote for other political parties.
The rules apply to everyone. That means high-profile figures too.
Some Labour right-wingers disagreed with Campbell’s expulsion. Former Labour MP Peter Hain, for example, suggested the decision was “mad Stalinism”. But as journalist Owen Jones pointed out, the Labour Party was apparently just following its rules:
Given it's a Labour Party rule that any member who publicly supports another party auto-excludes themselves – as it was when Tony Blair was leader – why is there any controversy over Alastair Campbell? Should the rules not apply to him, and if so, why?
— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) May 28, 2019
As Jones explained, these were rules that Tony Blair also implemented when in power:
It's 2005. Tony Blair is leader. No fewer than 20 members of the Labour party are kicked out of the party – or rather, auto-excluded – for backing someone standing against the Labour candidate – just as Alastair Campbell has done. https://t.co/imKv7mVvO8
— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) May 28, 2019
Here is the rule in the Labour Party rule book which was enforced under Tony Blair's leadership, just as it has been today with Alastair Campbell. (https://t.co/oZMrGKyt9K)
You may agree with Campbell's decision, and that's fine. But he knew the rules and he chose to break them. pic.twitter.com/yNwzeG2gaH
— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) May 28, 2019
In fact, in recent years, some of the highest-profile expulsions from Labour have been left-wingers supportive of current leader Jeremy Corbyn. So it’s hardly the case that Labour has been picking off Corbyn critics.
Numerous key Corbyn allies, and specifically defenders of Palestinian rights, have faced suspension or expulsion in recent years. Numerous activists have been closely monitoring this controversial crackdown. And the media has faced specific criticism for its complicity with this campaign, which a recent documentary slammed as a “witch hunt”.
So while some people are currently trying to defend Campbell’s decision to back the Liberal Democrats, many activists are clearly happy that Labour finally seems to be applying its rules more equally.
Moving on…
Campbell isn’t moving on yet, though, saying:
I have been advised by lawyers with expertise in this field I have grounds for appeal against expulsion and shall do so
Some more sarcastic Twitter users, meanwhile, suggested other paths for him:
https://twitter.com/ChangeUKLTD/status/1133356350556246017
https://twitter.com/sarkisz/status/1133345498079944710
Others, however, think Campbell knew exactly what he was doing – and that his backing for the Lib Dems may have been part of a cunning plan:
https://twitter.com/SaulStaniforth/status/1133409077281869825
In fairness to Alastair Campbell today, his surprise at being expelled from @UKLabour despite this video evidence should surely aid him at War Crimes proceedings at The Hague..when they get to sentence mitigation. pic.twitter.com/BCPDkXrQhl
— Afshin Rattansi (@afshinrattansi) May 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/MHarris360/status/1133344418185007105
Don’t let the media turn Campbell into the victim
Labour’s rules may not be perfect, but they exist. So Campbell is not the victim here. He knew the rules, and he chose to break them. And considering the immense damage he helped to cause both at home and abroad, he’s someone who deserves absolutely none of our sympathy.
Good riddance!
Featured image via Twitter – Jeremy Vine On 5
