12th May 10

Alastair Campbell brands Adam Boulton pathetic

by Harry Oldfield

Following their now-infamous verbal altercation on live television, the Labour Party’s one-time head of communications has criticized the Sky News political analyst over what he calls a ‘temper tantrum’. Rather than seeking any detente with Sky’s Adam Boulton, Campbell appeared to continue on the offensive, labelling Boulton as ‘pathetic’.

Mr Campbell appeared to be unhappy with the Boulton’s angry reaction to accusations of biased reporting. Campbell said he has very strong views about the media. He said the way the press had covered the political campaign was a ‘joke’ and accused people like Adam Boulton of being unable to respond in a mature manner when anyone questions the impartiality of their reporting. Sky News said Mr Boulton had been defending his integrity.

The heated encounter, which was broadcast live on Sky’s 24-hour news channel, appeared to be rooted in Mr Campbell’s attempt to insist that the election results had not clearly indicated that the British people wanted Gordon Brown and the Labour Party out of power.

Mr Campbell accused the Sky News presenter of “…spending the last few years saying Gordon Brown is dead meat and he should be going anyway.” Mr Boulton then challenged Campbell to show where Boulton had said that. Boulton also pointed out that the Conservatives had won both more seats and more votes than Labour.

Mr Campbell responded that Boulton, “…was obviously upset that David Cameron is not Prime Minister.” At this point, Adam Boulton appeared to get genuinely upset and said, “’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.”

Following their now-infamous verbal altercation on live television, the Labour Party’s one-time head of communications has criticised a Sky News political analyst over what he calls a ‘temper tantrum’. Rather than seeking any detente with Sky’s Adam Boulton, Campbell appeared to continue on the offensive, labelling Boulton ‘pathetic’.

Mr Campbell appeared to be unhappy with Boulton’s angry reaction to accusations of biased reporting. Campbell said he has very strong views about the media. He said the way the press had covered the political campaign was a ‘joke’ and accused people like Adam Boulton of being unable to respond in a mature manner when anyone questions the impartiality of their reporting. Sky News said Mr Boulton had been defending his integrity.

The heated encounter, which was broadcast live on Sky’s 24-hour news channel, appeared to be rooted in Mr Campbell’s attempt to insist that the election results had not clearly indicated that the British people wanted Gordon Brown and the Labour Party out of power.

Mr Campbell accused the Sky News presenter of “…spending the last few years saying Gordon Brown is dead meat and he should be going anyway.” Mr Boulton then challenged Campbell to demonstrate where he had said that. Boulton also pointed out that the Conservatives had won both more seats and more votes than Labour.

Mr Campbell responded that Boulton, “…was obviously upset that David Cameron is not Prime Minister.” At this point, Adam Boulton appeared to get genuinely angry, saying “’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.”

Sky News have supported Boulton, saying that the analyst was simple defending his position as an impartial reporter.

Share and Enjoy:

6 Comments

"I would refer to Adam Boulton to Youtube where he can find himself mug- to-camera, describing Gordon Brown as a ' dead man walking'. Pertinently, many viewers have complained about the clear bias exhibited by Boulton who seems to have been unhinged by the recent electoral uncertainty. There is another video on youtube of him laying into Ben Bradshaw in the same manner. This time there was absolutely nothing resembling provocation of any kind in my opinion. Boulton was not able to respond civilly to Bradshaw's contradiction of his analysis. There are other legitimate points of view regarding the negotiations after the election where no party one an overall majority but Boulton has refused to countenance the airing of these. He has behaved extraordinarily for a professional political analyst and provoked the most reasonable response of disbelief and dismay at his appalling rudeness, boorishness and histrionics. He is the best argument for the BBC. I used to be a fan but not for some time since he became so rabid in the promotion of his view and uncivilised in the quashing of others.Only he could make the mendacious Campbell look cool."

Added by susan galea on 12th May 10

"Adam Boulton is a pathetic little man and Sky news is becoming more and more like the UK's answer to Fox News every day."

Added by NathanS on 13th May 10

"I had already considered prior to this incident that Adam Boulton was showing clear bias throughout the election coverage. However, this is Sky News and the reporters are clearly Murdoch's puppets so what can we expect. Mr. Boulton displayed himself for exactly what he is... a biased, aggressive, nasty little man. I doubt his outburst will win him any admirers."

Added by Angela Chadwick on 13th May 10

"It's about time someone laid into Labour, as they lost the election, getting less votes than anyone else, yet fail for some reason to admit it. In a normal vote with 3 options, the option with least votes is the outright loser, regardless of the winners amount of votes. So why do Labour believe that for some reason this is not the case in an election? I don't support any party, but I'm sick of this ludicrous claim from them that there was no winner. Clearly The Tories won, regardless of if they took 50% of the votes. So well done Adam Boulton."

Added by Spen on 13th May 10

"I am glad Mr Campbell has accused Mr Boulton of biased reporting. This is the feeling of most people( that I have talked to) who watched Mr Boulton giving negative views. Where has the impartiality of journalistic reporting gone?"

Added by Dr N C Patel on 15th May 10

"Sky Rage. Into whom did Adam Boulton alas tear? Campbell!"

Added by Warwick Harte on 16th May 10