What did Alastair Campbell say about the attack on Australian MP Helen Haines?

Alastair Campbell said Helen Haines, an independent MP from Victoria, was out without security when a driver hit her and then reversed into her, which is why people think it was deliberate. She was flown to hospital and has lost a leg. He linked it to a draft report called Fit to Lead, due in Canberra, which finds politicians suffer more depression and anxiety than emergency service workers, with social media a major driver.

• Campbell compared Australia's soul-searching to Britain's after the killings of Jo Cox and David Amess and the stabbing of Stephen Timms.
• The hosts warned against guessing the alleged attacker's motive, noting that the man's father said Haines was known to the family.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on The Rest Is Politics (2026-10-20). Read the whole episode summary →

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