Tony Blair's former right-hand man was at The University of Sheffield's Student Union to talk about his career in politics and the media.

Guests also got the chance to put him in the hotseat with a questions and answers slot after he took to the floor.

The event was organised as part of the union's Exchange Programme, set up this year by the Students and Politics Society with the aim of re-engaging interest in politics and current affairs and establishing Sheffield as a centre for debate.

Speaking to The Star before the event Mr Campbell said he wasn't worried about a grilling from the Sheffield audience.

He said: "I've certainly done it plenty of times before.

"The hardest questions are the factual ones which you don't know the answer to and people think you should. Occasionally people will ask me about something from my book which I've forgotten about, but it usually comes back into my memory if I think long enough. I'm not worried about it - you wouldn't do it if you were."

Mr Campbell said it was good to see students organising and attending events like these, which he said were important for the future of politics.

He said: "People often say that the quality of person going into politics is not high enough. We have got to encourage the brightest and the best in the universities to be interested in politics, whether they are studying politics or not."

Mark Willoughby, Union President, said: "This was a fantastic opportunity to hear from a man who worked so closely with Tony Blair and to gain an insight into his role at Number 10."

Co-host of the event was the Broomhill Festival - with proceeds from the ticket only event going to the festival's five beneficiary charities.

As chairman of fundraising for Leukaemia Research, Mr Campbell was particularly keen to show his support for the Sheffield Leukaemia and Blood Disorders Appeal, one of the five charities involved.

Others to benefit include the Sarah Pierce Charitable Fund for Cystic Fibrosis in Sheffield, the South Yorkshire Development Education Centre, Mencap and Gateway, and St Andrew's Church Child Contact Centre in Broomhall.

Click on the green icon above to watch our exclusive video interview.

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