My film on the Mail – and why it is good for the soul to rip it up
I know, I know, I am almost sixty years old, a grown man even … and yes, if my Mum was...
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Author: Alastair Campbell
The lesson of political history is keep fighting for what you believe in – including Britain in Europe
Thanks for all the positive feedback for the piece I did for the second issue of The New European, an extract of which I posted a few days ago, and the full version of which you can read below. The New European is a...
Read MoreMemo to PM May: not a second referendum, but a first referendum on a proper choice of options after real debate
There have not been that many rays of light emerging from that dark day of national self-harm, June 23, but one has been the emergence of a new ‘pop-up newspaper’ aimed especially at the 48percent who voted Remain in...
Read MoreOn Brexit, Chilcot, Corbyn, Leadsom and May: the Mad Hatter-ology of modern politics
This was first published yesterday by International Business Times. Since June 23, when we ‘took back control’ (of what precisely remains very unclear) I have been in South America, and four European countries...
Read MoreMany mistakes yes, but no lies, no deceit, no secret deals, no ‘sexing up’. And ultimately a matter of leadership and judgement
There was an awful lot to take in from Sir John Chilcot’s half hour statement, and there will be more to take in from the two million plus words he published when people get round to reading it, and the torrent of...
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.