Of course one of the problems with a blog is that people read it, and can use it to try to embarrass you. So there I was, at a Labour fundraiser in Dulwich last night, and local MP Tessa Jowell introduced me by reading my blog...
Read MoreHappy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Lord Ashcroft, happy birthday to you. Yes, the Great Man of Mystery celebrates his 64th birthday today. But three problems may be casting a cloud over the...
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The tributes will focus on Michael Foot the politician, the minister, the leader, the wonderful orator. They will highlight too his journalism and his writing, and the great causes he supported. I hope that what also comes...
Read MoreA confession … I sometimes find speaking at Labour Party fundraisers a real chore. There, I’ve said it. Most are fine, some are terrific, but sometimes you’re just not in the mood, there is no energy and...
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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.