Blair’s ex-spokesman ‘an unguided missile’ during Iraq War

Campbell had contacts with MI6,as communications strategy in run-up to invasion of Iraq,said official

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s ex-spokesman Alastair Campbell was just like “an unguided missile” during talks about intelligence before the Iraq War,a senior MI6 intelligence officer has revealed.

Campbell tended to have “rushes of blood to the head” and briefed journalists about the Iraq War without consulting MI6,according to previously secret evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry into the conflict.

The officer said Campbell had regular contacts with MI6,the Secret Intelligence Service,as part of the government’s communications strategy in the run-up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The witness,referred to as “SIS2”,was quoted by the ‘Daily Express’ as telling the inquiry: “We found Alastair Campbell,I think,an enthusiastic individual,but also somewhat of an unguided missile.”

He added: “We also,I think,suffered from his propensity to have rushes of blood to the head and pass various stories and information to journalists without appropriate prior consultation.”

An edited transcript of SIS2’s evidence at a private hearing was released on Thursday.

Responding to SIS2’s testimony,Campbell wrote on his ‘Twitter’ page: “No such views expressed to me by senior SIS personnel at time,as on the record evidence to inquiries shows.”

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The inquiry,chaired by Sir John Chilcot,is due to publish its report this year.