Bad Al Campbell is cock-a-hoop this morning, Downing Street refused to put up a minister against him on Question Time. Admittedly this is not a strategic error of the order of Suez, but it does provide comfort to a demoralised enemy. Campbell feels all self-important and Downing Street looks scared, arrogant or amateurish depending on your viewpoint.
It might only be a Westminster Village story, but it seems like an unforced error.
Michael Howard shows how easy it is to effectively crush Campbell:
Ken Clarke could have done the job with ease…
UPDATE : In the comments most co-conspirators reckon Guido is wrong, typical comment (from Angelnstar)
Alastair Campbell is a discredited political figure who degrades debate. Why should anyone give this rubbishy person air time? He should be kicked off every programme, not just Question Time. …
Why should any sensible person have to waste time correcting his deluded spin, and sick fantasies, and why should they pander to his overdeveloped ego? If more people refused to appear with him, his TV time would be severely restricted. He is trash.
That may be true, nevertheless Bad Al was on television all the time during the general election and he probably cost Labour votes. He appeals to Labour’s activist headbangers and appals voters. Guido reckons the more voters see him, the more they remember why they dislike Labour…
