judging by the reaction on twitter last night, I’d say the BBC2 dramatised account of the Munich air crash went down rather better than the ‘let’s cash in quick’ Kate and Wiliam ‘movie’. At...
Read MoreSuch is the negative prism through which Nick Clegg is now seen that people are highly suspicious about his sudden pre-local elections, pre-AV referendum attacks upon David Cameron. It is all a bit too neat after all the...
Read MoreAnother example if I may of this coalition’s tendency toward cannabilibistic policies. Exhibit 1 comes from the Camden New Journal, where I read of the professional demise of a man mamed Mike Jackson, not the singer, nor...
Read MoreI have no idea if Gordon Brown is interested in being the next head of the IMF, no idea if it is true that current incumbent Dominique Strauss-Khan fancies himself as the Socialist Party challenger to President Sarkozy at the...
Read MoreI can only assume John Reid feels really, really strongly about AV to risk the inevitable opprobrium from some quarters for sharing a platform with David Cameron. In common with a lot of people, I cannot claim to feel that much...
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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.