Ex-Tony Blair spin chief Alastair Campbell furiously denies punching man in street bust-up

FORMER Labour spin chief Alastair Campbell has furiously denied punching a man during a bizarre street bust-up while out jogging near his home.

Alastair Campbell denies punching man who called him a 'piece of s' in street

Alastair Campbell furiously denies he punched and spat at the man ARCHANT

Alastair Campbell furiously denies he punched and spat at the man

Tony Blair's ex-special advisor claims accusations he "punched and spat" at a man are "totally untrue".

Instead, the 57-year-old insisted that he himself was verbally abused and spat at during an unprovoked attack in north London. 

Mr Campbell spoke out after CCTV footage captured an argument involving him and a 61-year-old man on Monday last week. 

The astonishing fracas emerged after the anonymous man contacted Bradford West MP George Galloway - who then announced to his 230,000 followers on Twitter that he was investigating.

Alastair Campbell was out jogging near his home ARCHANT

Alastair Campbell was out jogging near his home

Though I am used to robust debate, this is the first time I have been attacked in a public place and the first time I have been spat at

Alastair Campbell

The footage taken in plush Hampstead shows Mr Campbell, a keen jogger, wearing running gear as he strolls towards Hampstead High Street when he is confronted at around 1.15pm.

The man then follows the ex-journalist, author and broadcaster and the incident continues out of sight of the camera.

The older man then walks off down Perrin's Lane towards Heath Street.

Mr Campbell, who headed up former the Prime Minister press relations team between 1997 and 2003, told local newspaper Ham&High he did not respond to the man's initial insults and instead put his "arm out to his shoulder to stop him coming any closer." 

The father-of-three claimed the man then kicked him in the leg and spat, resulting in "most of the spit landing on my shirt, some on my face."

Mr Campbell, who's fought a long battle against depression, said: "Though I am used to robust debate, this is the first time I have been attacked in a public place and the first time I have been spat at.

"We have lived in Gospel Oak, happily and as active members of the local community, for decades and it has always felt safe and friendly." 

However the older man who lives in Hampstead, told a different story to the newspaper.

He said: "I was walking up Perrin's Lane and I saw Campbell coming towards me and I made a remark.

Alastair Campbell is the former spin doctor of Tony BlairGETTY

Alastair Campbell is the former spin doctor of Tony Blair

"As he came past me, I said, 'The biggest piece of **** I've ever seen in this street'.

"He then struck out and hit me on my left shoulder.

"I turned to confront him and said, 'That is assault, you should be in prison, not running around the streets of London'.

"At which point spitting ensued and then I aimed a blow with my foot that did not connect.

"Nothing that I did was illegal and he had no right to punch me."

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