So David Cameron has pronounced that Andy Coulson is safe in his job. Assuming Mr Cameron does the basics of leadership, that means he has satisfied himself that his communications director did nothing improper or illegal, nor...
Read MoreIt is not often that a breaking news story stops me getting into the car and going to see my Mum up north before heading on to Burnley tomorrow to carry on with the film I am making on the club’s promotion to the...
Read MoreThere are few more divisive sportsmen than Lance Armstrong. To some (many of them French, who would rather one of their own had dominated the Tour de France) he is a cheat who could not have achieved what he has without doping....
Read MoreI was asked to write a blog for LabourList with a Pride London theme. Here it is, but it’s also here. David Cameron last week chose an exclusive central London venue, the Paramount Club, with a ticket price of 50 pounds...
Read MoreAs you may know, the Daily Mail and Mail on Scumday are not allowed in the house. It’s the same rule I apply to dogshit. But I confess to taking a sneak peek online today, to see whether the Scumday did anything with a...
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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.