Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Adam Boulton regrets on-air spat with Alastair Campbell

Emily Ashton
Tuesday 01 June 2010 10:13 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Broadcaster Adam Boulton expressed regret today over a furious on-air spat with Labour's former head of communications, Alastair Campbell.

The Sky News political editor was involved in the fiery exchange in a live interview two weeks before the General Election.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "Of course I regret showing a little bit more temper than was necessary."

Mr Campbell had accused the broadcaster of treating then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown as "dead meat" and said he was "obviously upset that David Cameron is not Prime Minister".

A clearly angry Mr Boulton responded: "I'm not upset. You keep casting aspersions... Don't keep telling me what I think. I'm fed up with you telling me what I think, I don't think that."

Mr Boulton told Today: "Here we had an unelected person who actually didn't even have a job in the Labour team who was coming out and, before the Cabinet had met, telling us what the Government was going to do.

"And once I tried making these points to him he turned nasty and attacked my integrity."

He said the exchange had reminded him of former Today presenter Brian Redhead interviewing Tory Chancellor Nigel Lawson in 1987 - when Mr Lawson accused the broadcaster of being a life-long Labour supporter.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in