During his time at the heart of Number 10 Alastair Campbell gained a reputation in and around Westminster as being an aggressive, short tempered spinner. As the ultimate fixer few saw hm as emotional, but today, in what some will see as classic media manipulation, he became so emotional whilst being interviewed by Andrew Marr that that he came close to breaking down.

Insisting that Tony Blair did not mislead parliament in the run-up to the Iraq war, Campbell appeared angry and upset as he paused for several seconds under the questioning.

After regaining his composure he said that there was now “constant vilification” on the issue from the media, adding “I don’t think the media is interested in truth now… (it’s) interested in settling scores, settling agenda.”