It is quite something to go from one full on campaign (the general election in May) into another (the Labour leadership election) and then within three days of your unexpected win make a hugely anticipated speech to Party and...
Read MoreMany many words will be uttered before Ed Miliband’s speech to Labour’s conference this afternoon. The words that matter are those that he says, not all the speculation and hype. For now I have nothing much to add to...
Read MoreExcellent little off the cuff speech by David Miliband at Labour’s conference today. He has handled himself well in defeat. He has a lot to offer. But just as yesterday I suggested his brother Ed would be well served by...
Read MoreIt is not usual for me to kick off with words of praise for Nick Robinson and Tom Bradby, but both require a little for their commentary around the election of Ed Miliband as Labour leader yesterday. As the breathless anchors...
Read MoreThe media keep saying that the Labour leadership election ‘has failed to capture the public imagination’, though how they define this judgement is entirely subective and based in large part on an understandably...
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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.