By Lucky Gold, CNN

Frankly putrid

That’s how Alastair Campbell, Director of Communications for former Prime Minister Tony Blair, described certain elements of the British press when he testified on Monday before the Leveson Inquiry in London, looking into the hacking scandal.

Campbell didn’t back away from those words today, as he appeared on Amanpour, shortly after Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the now defunct Rupert Murdoch tabloid, The News of the World, was charged with perverting the course of justice.

He was asked about the cozy relationship between Britain’s powerful and the press, as revealed by the Inquiry.

“It’s not just about Rupert Murdoch,” said Campbell.  “Britain, as you know from having lived here, has got a very diverse and aggressive media….We have a lot of newspapers in a geographically fairly small country…And I think any political leader has to take account of the role they play in the political debate.”

Campbell didn’t minimize the potential for conflict of interest: “Now what I hope will come out of this inquiry is a changing of that relationship…I’ve been arguing for some years is that it’s got itself into a very, very bad place and I hope it can lead to change.”

That need for change was highlighted by Rebekah Brooks’ testimony before the Inquiry, in which her many messages and meetings, even her yachting, with current Prime Minister David Cameron were detailed.

Said Campbell, “I think David Cameron is on the record as saying that he got too close and he says that all politicians at times got too close.”

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