Short and sweet today … to thank all those who, particularly via Facebook, have wished me a Happy Birthday and, more importantly, good luck to Burnley. It is, quite simply, the biggest game since 1987 when we had to beat...
Read More‘Washington trembles at the return of Darth Vadar’, as one headline has it, might be overstating things, but Dick Cheney’s ‘don’t go quietly’ approach to former Vice Presidency-dom is...
Read MoreHaving heard about the apparent suicide of former Korean President Roh, I thought Reuters might be the place to find out more. Sure, the story was there, very sad it was too, and reported in some detail. But what amazed me was...
Read MoreA few weeks ago I did a blog and a vlog from a Keighley Cougars Rugby League match, where I was doing an article for the Times magazine. The piece appears this morning, with some terrific photos, and I hope the club think I did...
Read MoreI was speaking at a dinner in Edinburgh last night, stayed over, and breakfast was accompanied by a complimentary copy of The Scotsman. Front page lead a story about a ‘respected businessman’ being appointed to...
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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.