Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell is a 'writer, communicator and strategist'. He is best known for his role as spin doctor to former UK Labour prime minister Tony Blair. Between 1997 and 2003 he was Blair's press secretary and director of communications and strategy. [1] Campbell was widely noted for his role in helping modernising the Government’s communications structures and approach.[2]
Since leaving parliament he 'divides his time between writing, speaking, consultancy, charitable fundraising, politics and campaigns'. [3]
He continues to advise the Labour Party, and other left of centre parties, most recently acting as strategic director for the Albanian Socialist Party, which 'won a landslide victory' in June 2013.
He also sits on the advisory board of lobbying and public relations firm Portland PR.
Iraq War- the September Dossier
During his time as adviser to Blair, Campbell was surrounded by controversy. Namely, his influence over the Governments decision to enter into the Iraq War. Campbell was involved in the preparation and release of the "September Dossier" in September 2002 and the "Iraq Dossier" (or "Dodgy Dossier") in February 2003. Both of these documents argued the case for concern over possible weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. These documents were later heavily criticised as they were believed to overstate and distort the actual intelligence findings. [4]
Notes
- ↑ life so far AlastairCampbell.org, accessed 18 March 2015
- ↑ Alastair Campbell Portland, accessed 18 March 2015
- ↑ Alastair Campbell Huffington Post, accessed 18 March 2015
- ↑ Chris Ames and Richard Norton-Taylor Alastair Campbell had Iraq dossier changed to fit US claims The Guardian, 10 January 2010, accessed 18 March 2015
