Leveson inquiry: Alastair Campbell accused of having a 'selective memory'

A former senior News of the World journalist has accused Alastair Campbell of "selective memory" following his appearance at the Leveson inquiry. Ian Kirby, news assistant editor (politics) at the News International title, which closed in July, said he hardly recognised the picture Tony Blair's former spin doctor painted at the inquiry on Wednesday, claiming he was central to many of the ridiculous stories carried by tabloids during his time at No 10. "Was this also the same Alastair who encouraged Andy Coulson and me to ask Tony and Cherie Blair if they were members of the mile-high club, knowing it would make a fantastic headline in the News of the World just before the 2001 general election? He liked that trick, because in the 2005 campaign the Sun was encouraged to ask the same question," Kirby wrote in a blog for Totalpolitics.com . "His memory is selective," added Kirby, who said there were regular leaks from people in government departments despite Campbell's protestations at Leveson. "I recall him telling Rebekah Brooks when she was editor of the News of the World that his infamous 'grid' of government announcements had never been leaked to the press. I was stood beside them at the time, with a copy of next week's 'grid' in my inside pocket, faxed over by a mate at another government department … a weekly event," he wrote. "I also remember being summoned into the editor's office about six months before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Rebekah had seen Alastair and wanted to know why I had not put up a story detailing human rights abuses by Saddam Hussein's soldiers in a little known prison called Abu Ghraib. I explained that the story was old. The United Nations monitors still operating in Iraq had concerns about it and the only paper to run it unchecked was a broadsheet," Kirby added. "This was vintage Alastair – if those nasty hacks in the lobby didn't buy a story he would simply, undeterred, flog it to editors or columnists and warn that their own useless reporters were missing a belter!" "Even at the last election, Alastair was instrumental in Labour's strategy, which was a good plan, to stay close to the News of the World after the Sun came out for Labour. It was the right thing to do, as many former cabinet ministers will acknowledge we gave them a fair hearing." The former News of the World journalist said the Leveson inquiry "has been uncomfortable viewing for many journalists, especially those of us who spent a long time working at the News of the World". But he added that the paper's former staff were "as shocked as anyone at the appalling behaviour displayed by some of our former colleagues". "Many of us feel ashamed crimes were committed on behalf of the paper we championed for so long," Kirby said. However, he added that it is important to remember that so far only a dozen of about 400 journalists who worked at the News of the World during the time phone hacking went on have been arrested. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication". • To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter at and Facebook .