Twenty years after Prime Minister Tony Blair’s first election victory, Alastair Campbell persuaded him to do a frank and open interview about Brexit, President Trump being in the White House and even the very controversial topic of Iraq. Mr Campbell was Tony Blair’s official spokesperson and political editor for several years while he was Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. Being close friends for most of their political careers together they knew each other very well, with Alistair speaking for Tony on a number of official occasions. Together they shared the victories of election wins, great progress in the Nation Health Service, better schooling. advancements in Gay Rights and succeeded in helping to bring about the historic Peace Process.
In the infamous interview the two men also spoke about the lows of being in Political Office, they discussed openly the policy setbacks, the clashes about the situation in Iraq, ministerial scandals and personality clashes with other members of the Party. Alistair Campbell’s Diaries about his time in Downing Street are well-known to Tony Blair and many of the vivid entries have been included in books written and published and aired on Podcasts by Mr Campbell.
This frank and open interview continued with Tony Blair admitting that he hadn’t always handled his personal or political profile very well, while in Office and his unpopularity over the controversies in Iraq he knew had deepened. At the end of the interview the two men were able to shake hands and walk away still friends, knowing that throughout all the difficulties, they had achieved a great deal together.