Apologies to those who were expecting a bloodbath on Boulton when I did my first interview with Sky’s political editor since our infamous encounter on College Green last May. Adam’s wife Anji Hunter had sent me a...
Read MoreIf a Labour government were still in power, and a shock inflation rise was announced, doubtless the current ‘all Labour’s fault’ mantra from the Tories would be heard. Labour people being more reasonable, we...
Read MoreThanks to those who agreed with some (in one case all) of my choices of five books on Mariella Frostrups’ Open Book programme, which is repeated on Radio 4 at 4pm on Thursday. They were This Sporting Life by David Storey,...
Read MoreI’ve just been asked to do Newsnight tonight to take part in a discussion about great speeches. The peg is Martin Luther King Day. The great human rights leader has been trending on twitter all day as people recall his...
Read MoreWell, that was an enjoyable 0-0, even if it meant I missed hearing how the Beeb edited down my Open Book interview with the lovely – sorry, but I find it impossible to say Mariella without that prefix – Mariella....
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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.