Later Miss Jowell denied she meant Campbell.  She said in a statement:

"I deny absolutely telling the Telegraph that Alastair Campbell has behaved in a bullying or aggressive manner or has little respect for voters. It is simply not true.

"I did say in this interview, as I have in the past, that the aggressive style of political discourse can turn off voters, but at no point did I mention or hint at Alastair Campbell in this context.

"Alastair is a close personal friend and I have always admired his life-long efforts to defend and promote the best of Labour's values."