And to think that a couple of weeks ago, if you heard people talking about ‘vuvuzela’, you’d think they were pissed and reminiscing about their holiday in South America. Now, thanks to the universal appeal of...
Read MoreFor reasons I may dilvuge at a later date, I didn’t have time to do a blog yesterday, and today I have just a few minutes before going out to complete the BBC Lifeline Appeal film on behalf of Leukaemia and Lymphoma...
Read MorePoor Rob Green … even as the words go down on the screen, I can hear the fulminations to the phone-ins as one horrific moment is allowed to define a man’s career, even his life. He is a professional footballer, and...
Read MoreWell after all the excitement of the build-up and the opening match, the French soon bought things crashing down to earth. I normally have a bit of a soft spot for France but what with Henry’s handball against Ireland and...
Read MoreDear George and Danny, Apologies for being a bit late in the day with this but what with the World Cup and a trip to Queen’s to see the big guys fall, sport came ahead of my attempts to help you cut public spending....
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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.