I’m speaking at a conference on ICT and education tomorrow, and was invited because the organisers saw me as ‘a leader’ no less in the embracing of all the new techology stuff. Truth be told, I am still pretty...
Read MoreThis coalition malarkey is proving to be even more consensual than we thought. It now appears that whatever immigration policy people voted for, what they are probably going to get is neither the one the Tories campaigned on,...
Read MoreBreakfast in London, lunch in Berlin, so a chance to read the Fussball-mood now that England and Germany are drawn together in the last 16 of the World Cup. On yesterday’s outings, you would have to give it to Germany if...
Read MoreIn this spin-free (sic) world of the new coalition government, I draw your attention to a piece in today’s Guardian. It is but a tiny molehill amid the mountainous coverage of George Osborne’s first and, alas, not...
Read MoreYou may remember during the election that I was somewhat dubious about Labour targeting George Osborne as the Tories’ ‘weakest link’. What you saw today was a right-wing Tory Chancellor setting out, with...
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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.