So, first of all, many thanks to The Guardian, who have once more allowed me a platform to argue the basic case that we are light year away from parity between mental and physical health. Here is the piece they have just posted,...
Read MoreIt seems that tomorrow Theresa May intends to say once more that mental health is a priority of hers. She said the same on the day she became Prime Minister. So I wish she could have been at the Royal College of Psychiatrists on...
Read MoreYesterday I made a speech to a conference organised by Fremantle Media, the independent production company that has given us such delights – depending on your taste – as Pop Idol, The Price is Right, and The Bill. They wanted me...
Read MoreSome of you may know I do a monthly interview for GQ magazine. This month’s, out this week, features Nicola Adams. But last month the editor asked me to take a different tack and use my usual space to explain why I so...
Read MoreYesterday was World Mental Health Day, and I spoke about stigma – again – at the Leeds Community Foundation where the signs of change coming were all around. The city council’s brilliant CEO Tom Riordan...
Read More
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.