Alastair Campbell expelled from Labour over EU election vote

Alastair Campbell expelled from Labour over EU election vote

UK

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell has been expelled from the party after admitting to voting Liberal Democrat in last week’s European Parliament elections.

He said he found the action “particularly sad and disappointing” as it “comes on a day when actually, finally, the Labour Party seems to be trying to move to what I would define as a sensible, credible, coherent position on Brexit”.Sponsored link

Senior Labour figures have used the EU election results, in which the party came third behind the Brexit Party and Liberal Democrats, to suggest Labour should more clearly support a second EU referendum.

Mr Campbell, a prominent Remainer and advocate of the People’s Vote campaign for a second referendum, said: “I don’t believe I voted against the Labour Party, I believe I voted in the best interests of what the Labour Party should be doing.”

A Labour Party supporter wears a rosette in support of the political party during the election count for Basildon at the Sports Village in Basildon, Essex. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 6, 2016. See PA story POLITICS Election. Photo credit should read: Hannah McKay/PA Wire .
Image:Labour was beaten into third place in the elections by the Lib Dems

The ex-Downing Street director of communications said he did not want to be treated differently from any other Labour member, but claimed senior people in Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s office had previously recommended voting against Labour.

He also noted how Mr Corbyn congratulated George Galloway on defeating a Labour candidate at a parliamentary by-election in 2012.

Mr Campbell added he would “definitely” appeal against his expulsion, adding: “One thing I know is I’m not going to leave the party because some random email comes in telling me I’ve been expelled.”

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