Tony Blair's ex-spin chief Alastair Campbell no longer wants to stay in Labour Party
The former Downing Street adviser criticises Jeremy Corbyn and says he cannot commit to voting Labour at the next election.
Tuesday 30 July 2019 16:17, UK
Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's former spin chief, will no longer fight against his expulsion from Labour as he does not want to stay in the party.
In an open letter to Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Campbell revealed the decision he has taken "with some sadness but absolute certainty" as he delivered yet further criticism of the Labour leader.
Mr Campbell, who served former Labour prime minister Mr Blair in Downing Street between 1997 and 2003, was expelled from the Labour Party in May after he admitted voting for the Liberal Democrats in the EU elections.
The prominent Remainer, who backs a second EU referendum, had been fighting against Labour's action. But he has now decided to no longer pursue the case.
Commenting on his decision, Mr Campbell told Paste BN that "Labour is not remotely in a winning position" ahead of a possible general election.
In an attack on Mr Corbyn's performance as Labour leader, he added: "I see complacency, I see an irritation whenever he's asked about Brexit or antisemitism, I see him just not rising to the challenge.
"I think we've just got to stop pretending that, somehow, it's all going to be fine on the night because it's not unless there is major radical change at the top."
In his letter to Mr Corbyn, published by The Guardian, Mr Campbell revealed he would not commit to voting for Labour at future elections.
He claimed "some kind of public commitment to voting Labour at the next election" had been suggested to him as a way of resolving his dispute.
But Mr Campbell told Mr Corbyn in the letter: "I did not feel comfortable about making a blanket commitment when politics is in such flux, and my concern about your stance on Brexit is still acute."
The ex-Number 10 director of communications added he did not know how he would vote at the next election.
And, in his criticism of Mr Corbyn, he added: "The culture you have helped to create has made the party one that I feel no longer truly represents my values, or the hopes I have for Britain.
"I see no strategy in place that remotely meets the electoral or policy challenges ahead.
"On the contrary, in so far as I ascertain a strategy at all, it is one that looks more designed to lose.
"I fear the country may already have decided that it does not intend to make you prime minister."
Mr Campbell also expressed his "fear" that Mr Corbyn would go down in history as "the leader who destroyed Labour as a serious political force capable of winning power".
"With a government this bad, pursuing a ruinous form of Brexit that will so damage our economy, society and standing in the world, Labour should be poised to win an election," he added.
"If the public could see that clear, credible and coherent alternative across the despatch box, ably led, we would be.
"That the country does not see it is, I am afraid, very substantially down to you."
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Suggesting Mr Corbyn should consider his position as Labour leader, Mr Campbell finished his letter by writing: "Please, for the sake of the party and especially for the sake of the country, think beyond the messenger, and think seriously about the message."
Under pressure from large parts of his party to alter his Brexit stance, Mr Corbyn has recently backed a second EU referendum and said he would campaign to remain in the EU if the government pursued a no-deal Brexit.
He told Paste BN' Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme his party would also pursue a fresh public vote on any Brexit deal a possible Labour government negotiates with the EU.
Former business secretary Lord Mandelson, who previously worked closely with Mr Blair and Mr Campbell, this week called for Mr Corbyn to be discarded as Labour leader.