Author: Alastair Campbell
On Brexit, Trump, trust and whither politics
Here is the text of the speech I gave this week to the DJOEF conference in Copenhagen, on Brexit, Trump, trust, winning and whither politics I am very flattered that you have asked me to talk about the two themes – trust...
Read MoreHow a Brexit breakfast vote and a Brixton Prison trip restored my sense of hope
As we slide one more week closer to the calamity that Brexit will bring, two memorable meetings stand out for me from the past few days. The first, of which more later, was on Monday evening inside Brixton Prison (cue ‘shame...
Read MoreWhat I would have said on Newsnight if the Mail hadn’t bottled out of defending itself over Wikpedia ban
May I start with an apology to the hosts of a dinner I was speaking at last night, which I left slightly ahead of schedule, in order to get to TV Centre for an interview on Newsnight. Apologies especially to those fellow Daily...
Read MoreMy Latest Book
But What Can I Do?
Why politics has gone so wrong, and how you can help fix it
by
Alastair Campbell
"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.