Another year, another volume of diaries, this one covering the time from Tony Blair’s third election win to his departure from office two years later. A majority of 66 – what would Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn give...
Read MoreWell, as hype went, it went well. Look at pretty much any major news site around the world and the Mayweather-McGregor fight is trending, and both men are standing by for a massive flow of cash into their coffers. The fight...
Read MoreWell, that was a day of unwanted outcomes on the sporting front … Burnley’s ‘friendly’ against Hanover abandoned because of German thuggery … and somewhat more significantly, Usain Bolt failing to...
Read MoreSometimes, as I moan and groan about backache, Brexit, or Burnley selling Michael Keane, I perhaps overlook just how blessed I am. To quote the fantastic Hebridean band Skipinnish ‘feel the wonder of the world, you are...
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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.