Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell has been expelled from the Labour party after voting for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections
One of Brexit’s most prominent critics, Campbell revealed on Sunday night that he had voted Lib Dem “to try to persuade Labour to do right thing” on Britain’s departure from the European Union.
In a series of tweets, Campbell wrote, “Sad and disappointed to receive email expelling me from Labour – particularly on a day leadership finally seems to be moving to the right place on Brexit.
“I voted Lib Dem, without advance publicity, to try to persuade Labour to do right thing for country/party.
“I have been advised by lawyers with expertise in this field I have grounds for appeal against expulsion and shall do so.”
Tony Blair’s former Director of Communications contrasted his expulsion with Labour’s approach to tackling anti-Semitism within the party, saying that it was “hard not to point out difference in the way anti-Semitism cases have been handled.”
1. Sad and disappointed to receive email expelling me from @uklabour – particularly on a day leadership finally seems to be moving to the right place on Brexit, not least thanks to tactical voting by party members, including MPs, councillors and peers who back @peoplesvote_uk .
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) May 28, 2019
2. I was not intending to publicise this at this stage, but have had calls from friends in the Party telling me it is now widely known and likely to be leaked. I have been advised by lawyers with expertise in this field I have grounds for appeal against expulsion and shall do so
— Alastair PEOPLE’S VOTE Campbell (@campbellclaret) May 28, 2019
3. I am and always will be Labour. I voted Lib Dem, without advance publicity, to try to persuade Labour to do right thing for country/party. In light of appeal, I won’t be doing media on this. But hard not to point out difference in the way anti-Semitism cases have been handled.
— Alastair PEOPLE’S VOTE Campbell (@campbellclaret) May 28, 2019
4. Plenty of precedent of members voting for other parties/causes. Some are now senior Party staff. Approach also contrasts with our era when TB was being pressed by whips to withdraw whip for JC and others for persistently voting against @UKLabour in Parliament, and he said No
— Alastair PEOPLE’S VOTE Campbell (@campbellclaret) May 28, 2019
A lifelong Labour supporter, Campbell said that voting Lib Dem was “a very, very strange feeling,” but felt it was necessary to send a message to the Labour leadership, of which he has been critical, particularly regarding the party’s approach to Brexit.
“On this issue, at this time, I think the Labour party has let its own supporters down, it’s let its own members down, and I think it’s let the country down,” Campbell told the BBC’s Huw Edwards on Sunday night.
Both the Conservatives and Labour saw disappointing results at the ballot box, with Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party and the Liberal Democrats making gains in the European Parliament.
