±«Óătv

I'm not a Howard supporter, but that was hardly worth the hype.

A calm and well-mannered criticism of Alastair Campbell's legacy is what I saw.

Still, a nice excuse to dredge up the Paxo interview... again.

Paxo promised us some "big Hitters". What a tired bunch of has beens and liars.Were they really the best you could get? How about somebody from the left. Galloway or MacDonnel. Oh sorry, that would break the media blackout and put the politicians in an akward position by having to face searching questions.Carry on letting them off the hook Paxo. Pathetic.

When we look back on all this, I hope that we remember that the bullying, menadacious form of "government communications" that Michael Howard is criticizing was directly responsible for driving a man to suicide. Not indirectly, through unintended consequences of policy or error, but through direct, concerted vilification by the government machine.

I'm pleased that this issue has been raised - both in Andrew Marr's piece on this site, and by Michael Howard on Newsnight. It isn't a party political issue - it goes to the heart of how we behave as individuals in society.

I thought Howard was superb, I am so grateful that someone has put Campbell in his place, a pity that the ±«Óătv has failed to do so over the last ten years.

Typical ±«Óătv comment in your piece though Peter, dragging up something from 11 years ago, what is it with the ±«Óătv and it's hatred towards the Conservatives?.

Also perhaps you could explain why we had 4 Labour members and only 1 Conservative on this programme?, hardly a fair and balanced forum.

Also your use of words such as 'Savage and Sustained' , is rubbish, Mr Howard was spot on in his views, I suggest that people in glass-houses and the ±«Óătv are certainly guilty of 'Savage and Sustained' attacks on politicians (although strangly not Labour politicians) should think twice before making such untrue accuastions.

Not sure why you're having a dig at Howard. Although I can't stand Howard, it was Campbell who made me cringe last night. He has all the maturity of a 14 year boy old overdosing on hormones. He clearly had no intelligent riposte to Howard's comments and resorted to the oratorical equivalent of sticking one's tongue out - bristling and spitting "sour grapes" / "you're just jealous". He may have said "yah, boo sucks" as well, but I can't be certain.

I wonder why none of the panellists in yesterday’s edition of Newsnight were prepared to question the honesty of Tony Blair’s motives in taking Britain to war in Iraq? Why nobody was prepared to really mention the misleading dossier and the blatant lying to Parliament? Or why the report glossed over the injustice perpetrated on the ±«Óătv by the Hutton inquiry?
My hopes were on David Hare to show courage and speak for liberal Britain, but he turned out to be just a “Harlod Pinter-Light”, appeasing and spineless.
Tony Blair was depicted as a secular saint who, even when misleading the nation, was always brimming with good intentions. Why?
I tell you why: because with the Hutton inquiry Tony Blair managed —in another of his devastating blows to Britain’s traditions of freedom— to emasculate the ±«Óătv. A diluted Newsnight like yesterdays could never have been made before that accursed “inquiry”.

What was extraordinary is that after Campbell made mincemeat of Paxman a couple of years back, whilst still being completely wrong and mendacious, Paxo still can't get to grips with him. He resorts to an occasional indignant upsurge in tone instead of dissecting Campbell's nonsence. He didn't even notice Campbell misrepresenting his own line of questioning.

Both Howard and Kennedy did Campbell all ends up. Campbell was left gibbering incoherently at Kennedy's line on Saddam being allowed to stay in power. Howard confronted Campbell and refused to be intimidated and talked over. Campbell then just got childish and petulant, losing both cool and credibility.

Paxo just seems to do indignance these days. He only goes for weak liberals or foreign people. Wark and Essler are way better.

I'm also by no means a Michael Howard fan/supporter, but I admired his direct and too the point attack on Campbell. He might have gone a little over the top in the far reaching implications of Campbell's influence but the gist of his gripe rings true with me.
The way the former director of communications then retaliated for the remainder of the show, with little jibes here and there, confirmed that Howard had "hit a nerve".

Howard used the programme to settle some old scores to which Campbell managed to keep his temper. I thought it became the major spot, (or should that be spat?)of the night in which Jeremy sat back and let them get on with it.
Never seen Paxo so quiet which to my mind was an excellent judgement on his part throughout the debate on Blair. (sidetracked by Howard)

We have the usual bloggers commenting on last night's programme slagging off Blair again, and moaning that Jeremy hadn't packed the panel with Tories.

Now they can all get ready to start "slagging off" Brown, it won't take long.

It was a brilliant moment, I was disappointed that none of the rest of the panel appeared to support Howard. A straightforward eyeball to eyeball critique - and he went on without letting Campbell change the subject. Politicians appear to only be at their most interesting and incisive when they're not within sight of gaining more power.

I thought it was a very interesting debate all round and once Howard got going it got even better. I felt Campbell lost out last night because he kept insisting on avoiding the accusation by making a connection with Blair’s victories over Conservative leaders. Also, Howard stayed calm and Campbell got into a huff. Well played Howard, for once.

It might come as shock to a bbc editor, but not everyone thimks Blair and Campbell walk on water. What exactlly did Howard say that shocked you so?
Aled

I thought this was fantastic. If Michael Howard had said Campbell had green hair he wouldn't have done a thing. The fact that Campbell was furious shows just how guilty that shameless idiot is.

I'm not a Howard fan either, BUT what he said to Campbell was calm, reasoned and true. And what was Campbell's response? In the typical bully-boy tone Campbell adopts for pretty much everything he says, "I left four years ago. Get over it and move on." It is EXACTLY THAT TONE, and that defensive bully-boy reaction to everything, that contributed over the years to the the ultimate downfall of "New" Labour. Perhaps Mr Brown and Labour will restore some dignity to the whole proceeding.

Well done Michael Howard... Campbell is a well known Bully boy of the Blair government ...not used to getting a taste of his own medicene.(remember that time he burst into Jon Snow's Newsroom)in the Gilligan / Kelly debacle. At the time it was alledged that he sexed up the dodgy dossier for the Iraq war. His part will have been documented /witnessed somewhere & will appear in the fullness of time.
Now Blair has/is going lets hope the media will not invite this man into the studios.

There appears to be little point in leaving comments on this site, unless they say nice things. Anything but the truth.

I watched the interview with MH back to 97. There is only one filling... He thought he will be here for-- ever. Thank God,,, WE AS Britain,,, Changed the course of history and politics,,, ALL OVER THE WORLD.. and now it is time for,,, I dont know,, befiting form the world we have created and not too much wory about some RADICALsss or irrationality...

It seems I am one of the few who think Howard made a fool of himself once again. It seems some politicians seem to suffer selective memory and feel sleaze in public life was invented in 1997. We could all list a line of Tory politicians who strayed from what would be considered the right path; Parkinson, Yeo, Aitken, Hamilton, The Chelsea Toe sucking supporter who's name escapes me. That is just a few. Campbell showed Howard the disdain he deserved and I found the whole thing hilarious. Jeremy was correct to stay out of it, which shows his skills once again.

Well done MR Howerd shame you are four years too late,Campbell has been allowed to get away from day one, and nobody seems to be able really call him to book.

I too believe that Campbell represents what was worst about New Labour. His attempt to negate the argument (echoing the line thrown him by emasculated Paxman) simply because he left 4 years ago was infantile. He set the tone for how government is conducted,which continues to this day.

What will it take for the ±«Óătv to get its teeth back?

"click here for another chance to enjoy." IT. Click here for another chance TO ENJOY IT. I shouldn't make that mistake in own backyard

I'm stunned by the way in which the Newsnight's editor reports this piece - I found nothing wrong with how Howard expressed himself - what I take great exception to is the way in which a supposedly unbiased editor subsequently reports it - frankly I'm dismayed and astonished by this.

I'm no fan of any of the current political parties but Howard's incisive,eloquent and accurate statements about Campbell went some way to putting things right in our country.
That such a individual was able to influence Tony Blair, without any effective opposition, is extremely worrying.

I still feel so sorry for Dr David Kelly and all the innocent victims of Britain's war in Iraq.

I'm not a great fan of MR Howard, but my hat goes of to him for what he said. he may be right, he may be wrong, the fact is hes not scared to have a go, and for me that shows a bit of grit. i wish more politician were like that. and as for the way Campbell pointed his bent finger at Howard proves his influence on MR Blair. I'm not gloating but it was great telly viewing!

I am a Labour supporter and it is certainly hard to praise someone with the record of Michael Howard but his comments about Campbell were SPOT ON about his corrosive influence on the Labour government during his tenure in NO 10. Campbell and his sleazy modus operandi were needed I suppose in the election campaign in 1997 but not after and his influence was just as malevolent as Peter Mandelson in trying to tear the heart out of Labour.
Good on you, Michael!