The coalition are doing things for which they have no mandate. Scrapping NHS Direct is the latest. They are getting away with it for now, but with proper argument and campaigning, this and other decisions will hurt them later in this Parliament.
Read MoreCameron reportedly wants Ed Miliband as Labour leader. Black propaganda, or a genuine view born of thinking the situation through? I think the latter
Read MoreWhen it comes to reporting exam results, editors do not let the facts get in the way of stories to justify their own (private) choices. But the truth is State schools are improving and private schools, despite the massive advantages, are not.
Read MoreAfter a few blog-free weeks, welcome to my new site, which I hope you like; and many thanks to the French health service for looking after my daughter – and that includes those much-maligned managers!
Read MoreIn the run-up to the election we sold several hundred signed copies of The Blair Years via the website, with half the proceeds going to the Labour Party. Now I want to do something similar with my first novel, All In The Mind,...
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.