Extract from an interview with Alastair Campbell in la Repubblica newspaper in Rome

03 May 2008

1.

Q.What do you think of the election results?
A.The local election results are clearly disappointing for Labour. Whilst it is true that in the mid-term of Parliaments, ... read more

2.

Q.What could, and should, Labour do to win the next national election in
order to stay in power?
A.The prime focus in these elections was on Labour, and in particular
Gordon Brown as leader and ... read more

3.

Q.France, Italy, and now England: is it a trend, a wave of change that spells trouble for the Left after a decade of successes?
A.I do not accept the idea that the right are winning the battle of ideas. In the UK, the Tories are having to ... read more

4.

Q.Will now many of the Left supporters see Tony Blair in a different light; better recognize his huge merits and maybe miss him?
A.This was inevitable in a way. Many of the people who used to knock down Blair to build up Brown are now using Blair ... read more

5.

Q.Why do you think the London Mayoral election went the way it went?
A.I suppose the 'time for a change' argument won through. Ken Livingstone has been Mayor for eight years and can be very ... read more

6.

Q.Italy: you have been there recently, what is the problem of the Italian left - or why does Berlusconi keep winning hearts and minds?
A.It was close, and Veltroni in many ways fought a good campaign. But nobody
should underestimate Berlusconi's campaigning ... read more

7.

Q.After a crashing defeat and after months of being personally down in the polls, should Labour present a new leader at the next general election?
A.There is always enormous focus on the leaders and that is inevitable. But it would be wrong to think that a change of leader ... read more