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Campbell 'screwed up' over euro Campbell reveals suicide thoughts
(about 2 hours later)
Newspapers were briefed without the PM's knowledge that the UK would not join the euro in Tony Blair's first term, according to Alastair Campbell. Alastair Campbell "momentarily" considered suicide during the Hutton inquiry, he reveals in his diary.
He said he and Gordon Brown's former adviser Charlie Whelan briefed the Times, thinking they had approval. Tony Blair's ex-spokesman described preparing to present his diaries to the inquiry into Dr David Kelly's death.
But Mr Blair had not approved it, and Mr Brown was "on the rampage" about the leak, Mr Campbell wrote in his diary. In his entry for 10 August 2003 he said he wondered "whether what I discovered on reading my own diary would be so awful that I would want to top myself".
In an October 1997 entry in his diary, published on Monday, Mr Campbell said he had "screwed up" over the story. Dr Kelly killed himself after being named as the source of a report into the government's Iraq dossier.
Mr Blair was thought to be keen to join the single European currency, but the chancellor was less enthusiastic. Mr Campbell wrote that he had left a holiday home in France on 10 August 2003 to pick up the diary to put forward as evidence for the inquiry.
He managed to seize control of the policy, and announced five economic tests which had to be met before he would recommend a referendum. 'A passing thought'
'Screwed up' "As I left the house, and said goodbye to Fiona (his partner), I did actually wonder momentarily whether it would be the last time I saw her, whether what I discovered on reading my own diary would be so awful that I would want to top myself.
Mr Campbell and Mr Whelan agreed to brief the Times that the government was effectively ruling out UK entry into the euro for Labour's first Parliament. "It was only a passing thought, but it was there, and it came back several times as I drove down to Marseilles.
"I knew I had done nothing wrong, but in this climate, things had gone beyond reason, it was like a drama or a novel, and nobody had control of events."
The give away is in the book's title which speaks of "extracts" BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
He also said Mr Blair had talked him out of resigning after Dr Kelly died, saying it would be a "disaster" for Mr Campbell.
Former BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan's report claimed a government dossier setting out details of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) had been "sexed up" to try to convince the public to back military action against Iraq.
Mr Gilligan quoted an unnamed senior official involved in drawing it up as saying that parts of it - specifically a claim that Saddam could launch WMD at 45 minutes' notice - had been inserted against the wishes of the intelligence services.
BBC row
The report led to a furious row between the BBC and Downing Street and the subsequent Hutton Inquiry in to the circumstances of Dr Kelly's death.
The inquiry ruled that Mr Gilligan's report had been wrong because Joint Intelligence Committee chairman John Scarlett had had ownership of the dossier and had agreed to everything included in it.
The diary covers events from 1994, when Mr Campbell was recruited as Mr Blair's press secretary, to 2003, when he resigned as the PM's spokesman.
I suddenly realised that because I had not really checked and double-checked with TB, we had briefed an enormous story on the basis of a cock-up Alistair Campbell's diaryI suddenly realised that because I had not really checked and double-checked with TB, we had briefed an enormous story on the basis of a cock-up Alistair Campbell's diary
But when the headline "Blair rules out single currency for this Parliament" appeared, Mr Blair called Mr Campbell. Among other disclosures are an admission that he "screwed up" by leaking a story to the Times that the government was effectively ruling out UK entry into the Euro in Tony Blair's first term as prime minister.
"It was all quiet until after 10, when TB called after he had seen the news and said what the hell is going on?" wrote Mr Campbell. Mr Campbell wrote that he and Charlie Whelan, Gordon Brown's then adviser, thought - wrongly - that they had their bosses' approval.
"'We never agreed this', he said. I said I thought they had. "I suddenly realised that because I had not really checked and double-checked with TB, we had briefed an enormous story on the basis of a cock-up," Mr Campbell wrote.
"I suddenly realised that because I had not really checked and double-checked with TB, we had briefed an enormous story on the basis of a cock-up." Euro statement
'On the rampage'
He went on to write that Mr Blair could not get hold of Mr Brown, so contacted Mr Whelan.
"TB asked if we had ruled out EMU (European monetary union) this Parliament. Yes, said Charlie. 'Is that not what you want?'. No it is not, said TB. 'Oh' said Charlie.
"GB was also now on the rampage, saying this had all gone too far, as if suddenly the headline he had been asking for was not what he had asked for at all."
Mr Prescott could have replaced Mr Blair, Alastair Campbell says
A few days later Mr Brown confirmed, in a statement in the House of Commons, that Britain would not be among the first wave of countries joining the euro.A few days later Mr Brown confirmed, in a statement in the House of Commons, that Britain would not be among the first wave of countries joining the euro.
The diary covers events from 1994 when Mr Campbell was recruited as Mr Blair's press secretary, to 2003, when he resigned as the PM's spokesman. Among other disclosures it says civil servants had planned for a caretaker government led by John Prescott in case Mr Blair quit after losing a vote on the Iraq war.
Among other disclosures it says civil servants had planned for a caretaker government led by John Prescott in case Tony Blair quit after losing a vote on the Iraq war. In 2003 Cabinet Secretary Andrew Turnbull was "quietly looking into" the scheme, Mr Campbell says.
'What ifs' Mr Prescott could have replaced Mr Blair, Alastair Campbell says
In 2003 Cabinet Secretary Andrew Turnbull was "quietly looking into" the scheme.
Staff met to discuss several "what-ifs", Mr Campbell's diary says.
Mr Blair eventually won the Commons vote on the war, but with 139 Labour MPs rebelling against the government.Mr Blair eventually won the Commons vote on the war, but with 139 Labour MPs rebelling against the government.
I've never really worked out why I provoked such strong reactions. Alastair Campbell class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6282106.stm">Extracts: Campbell's Diaries The book also describes the Cabinet meeting the day before the MPs' vote in 2003 and following Commons Leader Robin Cook's resignation over Iraq.
In Cabinet the day before the crucial Commons vote on military action, Deputy Prime Minister Mr Prescott and Labour Party chairman John Reid "looked physically sick", the book also says. Then Labour Party chairman John Reid, who stepped down at the same time as Mr Blair, warned ministers "we will be judged by the Iraq that replaces Saddam's Iraq, and by the Middle East".
The book describes the Cabinet meeting the day before the MPs' vote in 2003 and following Commons Leader Robin Cook's resignation over Iraq.
'No going back''No going back'
Mr Reid, who stepped down at the same time as Mr Blair, warned ministers "we will be judged by the Iraq that replaces Saddam's Iraq, and by the Middle East".
Clare Short told the meeting that she was "going to have my little agonising overnight. I owe it to you".Clare Short told the meeting that she was "going to have my little agonising overnight. I owe it to you".
Mr Campbell writes: "All of us, I think, had had pretty severe moments of doubt but he [Mr Blair] hadn't really, or if he had he had hidden them even from us.Mr Campbell writes: "All of us, I think, had had pretty severe moments of doubt but he [Mr Blair] hadn't really, or if he had he had hidden them even from us.
The give away is in the book's title which speaks of "extracts" BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
"Now there was no going back at all.""Now there was no going back at all."
Mr Campbell also reveals that in 2002 Mr Blair was considering resigning before the 2005 general election.Mr Campbell also reveals that in 2002 Mr Blair was considering resigning before the 2005 general election.
He has admitted removing references to Gordon Brown to stop Tory leader David Cameron thinking he had "a gold-mine to use against the new Labour prime minister". I've never really worked out why I provoked such strong reactions. Alastair Campbell class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6282106.stm">Extracts: Campbell's Diaries
The diary was published on Monday, weeks after Mr Blair stepped down as prime minister, and Mr Brown took over.
Mr Campbell has admitted removing references to Gordon Brown to stop Tory leader David Cameron thinking he had "a gold-mine to use against the new Labour prime minister".
The book leaves out much detail of the relationship between Mr Brown and Mr Blair. Mr Campbell told BBC Radio 4's Today programme these diaries were "the first chapter of a record that I intend to put into the public domain".The book leaves out much detail of the relationship between Mr Brown and Mr Blair. Mr Campbell told BBC Radio 4's Today programme these diaries were "the first chapter of a record that I intend to put into the public domain".
Asked about rows with journalists, he said: "I've never really worked out why I provoked such strong reactions."Asked about rows with journalists, he said: "I've never really worked out why I provoked such strong reactions."
He also played down the significance of any changes in the workings of the Downing Street communications unit made by Gordon Brown since he became prime minister. He also played down the significance of any changes to the workings of the Downing Street communications unit made by Mr Brown since becoming prime minister.