It must be so much easier to plan a funeral if you do God. Getting the tone of a ‘celebration of the life of’ is not easy. The Hodge family got it just right as hundreds gathered to bid farewell to Henry Hodge. Five...
Read MoreOff to a celebration of Henry Hodge’s life later today, so I may have a few words to say about that later – like if you haven’t already, please make a donation to www.justgiving.com/alastaircampbell; and...
Read MoreFor a few humid, air-cracking minutes, I was sure I was going to witness another moment in history yesterday – namely the first competitive tennis played under the new roof at Wimbledon. Somehow, with giant hailstones and...
Read MoreFunny old world … I was just arriving at Wimbledon, trying to find a telly that would be showing the Lions match, saying to my son that when we came here last year we were with Alan Milburn … when in pings a text...
Read MoreTwo nice surprises yesterday, three if you include the speed with which The Spectator backed down and apologised, as per yesterday’s blog. First, speaking at a conference I fully expected to be a bit of a drag, but really...
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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.