One of the most debilitating aspects of divisions in government is the emotional energy they absorb. Whilst I can and regularly do make the case that between them Tony Blair and Gordon Brown achieved a huge amount together, and...
Read MoreFirst of all congratulations to Alex Ferguson and Manchester United. Somehow I cannot see them failing to get a point out of Blackburn or Blackpool, so effectively they are Champions. He has further sealed his reputation as the...
Read MoreScotland didn’t look any different as I went for a morning run as the sun came out over Inverness this morning. But its politics feel very different, and nobody can predict where they will lead now. I spoke at a dinner for...
Read MoreAfter spending the last couple of days being feted in Croatia, one of the not inconsiderable number of countries where politicians still see the Blair political machine as the best of recent times, I am now on the way to...
Read MoreI really do wish the quiet carriage on the Heathrow Express was a quiet carriage. Maybe I don’t find the right one, but I find there is nowhere to escape from Muzak, instructions about where to put your bags, and news...
Read More
by
"Your country needs you. Your world needs you. Your time is now."
Our politics is a mess. We have leaders who can't or shouldn't be allowed to lead. We endure governments that lie, and seek to undermine our democratic values. And we are confronted with policies that serve the interests of the privileged few. It's no surprise that so many of us feel frustrated, let down and drawn to ask, 'But what can I do?' That question is the inspiration behind this book. It's a question regularly posed to Alastair Campbell, not least in reaction to The Rest is Politics, the chart-topping podcast he presents with former Tory Cabinet minister Rory Stewart. His answer, typically, is forthright and impassioned. We cannot afford to stand on the sidelines. If we think things need to change, then we need to change them, and that means getting involved. But What Can I Do? provides each of us with the motivation and the tools to make a difference. Opening with an acute analysis of our polarised world and the populists and extremists who have shaped it, it goes on to show how we help transform it. It explains how we can develop our skills of advocacy and persuasion. It draws on Alastair’s long experience, as well as on role models and lessons from history, to offer practical tips on starting and leading a campaign. It offers advice on developing confidence and coping with criticism and setbacks. And it sets out the practical steps by which we can become political players ourselves. Part call to arms, part practical handbook, But What Can I Do? will prove required reading for anyone who wants to help change things for the better.