Getting to Know You: Irene Campbell

What’s your earliest memory? 

Looking for Santa Claus at the window at night, that’s probably my earliest memory of something that was going on. I was probably wanting lots of toys; I was about two or three. 

What were you like at school? 

I’ve always been sociable, chatty and had lots of friends. I used to swim competitively and go to training in the morning. I’d then walk to school with wet hair, we’d laugh that by the time you’d get to school, your hair would be like ice. I got into punk music in my fifth year at school. I used to really like bands like The Clash, The Jam, The Sex Pistols and Siouxsie and the Banshees. I quite liked some German punk bands too, like Xmal Deutschland. I did okay, it was probably quite good for my parents with nothing to worry about. I wasn’t outrageous – maybe just my style.  

Who would be your dream dinner date? 

It would be with Leonard Cohen. I’m not really bothered where, it could be at the chippy in Saltcoats. I’d just like a couple of hours with him to talk about his poems and music. I’ve been a huge fan of his for years, his old and new stuff. I really like that I’m Your Man album that made him famous again in the 80s. I’ve seen him live a few times and it was great, but I would’ve loved to have met him.

What’s your greatest fear?

Doing this interview. I’ll turn it around on itself. I’m joking. It’s not something I really ever think about. 

What’s the worst thing that anyone’s ever said to you? 

I couldn’t possibly tell you; you couldn’t print it. There’s been a lot of nasty things, often with ‘complete and utter’ in front of it. I’m still laughing though, you can’t do this job without having a thick skin. I’m just me and this is the way I am.

What’s your most treasured possession? 

A soy latte! I do like a coffee in the morning. I’ve got a diamond art deco ring that I really like too.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure? 

Chocolate. I used to bake a lot; I’ve been a vegan for 30 years. There’s loads more vegan convenience stuff now than there was years ago. 

If you could go back in time, where would you go? 

I’d like to be back at the start of punk, but three years older than I was when it started. When it started, I was 14 and I couldn’t go to the things I wanted to. If I was 17 at the time I probably would’ve joined some cool band at the time. I moved to London in the early 80s when I was still a punk. I worked at CBS records and it was good fun. Punk was a big thing for me. I used to go to Red Wedge. Paul Weller, Billy Bragg and Kirsty MacColl were there to bring politics to younger people. [Former Northern Ireland secretary] Peter Hain and [former foreign secretary] Robin Cook did quite a lot with them. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever had? 

Never send a response when you are angry. I do live by this advice. If I was really angry but I needed to respond I’d put it in drafts. Then in morning, I’d probably change it all and I wouldn’t be annoyed any more. You don’t always have the time to do it in politics, but I still think it’s a very sensible thing to do. I was a senior manager in the NHS and when you’re dealing with lots of different situations, it’s always good to not rush in. 

What skill should every person have?  

I would actually say reading. Reading is really important, and people can miss out on so much if they don’t read. Access to books can improve quality of life. I get a lot out of reading. It must be very difficult if you are unable.

What’s the worst pain you’ve ever experienced? 

I broke my elbow a few years ago. I landed right on it – I went flying. It was during Covid and of course because I worked for the NHS you always go, ‘I’m not going to bother with going to A&E’, but when I actually went, I’d broken it.

What are your top films or TV programmes of all time? 

The Lady Vanishes. It’s a kind of spy mystery story made in the 1930s. It’s very twee but it’s ripping and very spiced up too. I watch a lot of Walter Presents on Channel Four, and a lot of Scandi noir dramas. I quite like watching world television. I find it quite relaxing and it means that I’m not on my phone, because you need to watch the subtitles. Deutschland was excellent too. The one I’m watching at the moment is Arctic Circle. It’s a Finnish one about all the horrific things that happen at the Russian border.  It takes me away from parliament a bit. 

What was your best holiday ever?  

I’ve travelled quite a lot over the years; I’ve been very lucky. I enjoy myself no matter where I go, I enjoy whatever I’m doing. I won’t do extreme sports, however. 

What was the last book you read? 

I’m not reading as much as I used to, as I don’t have the time. I’ve started reading Andrew O’Hagan’s Caledonian Road. He’s actually from my constituency originally, from Kilwinning. I went to his book reading event in Kilmacolm – he’s very good. The book is about Caledonian Road in London and it’s all so familiar for me. I started my career in London and now at the far end of my career I’m back in London. One of the characters in the book is an Ayrshire MP. She’s a 50-year-old QC though – that’s definitely not me.