Europe needs to get real on defence; Britain needs to get real on Europe
13 February 2025
Post
7 May 2009
5 minute(s) read
Recent Posts
156. Defence Secretary, John Healey: Is Britain Ready For War?
What tactic did Donald Trump steal from Gordon Brown? What can we learn from when Labour beat UKIP in the 2012 Rotherham by-election when it comes to taking on Farage? As a New Labour alumnus... Continue6 October 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
455. Question Time: Is Europe Already At War With Russia?
Is Europe already at war with Russia — without admitting it? Are the Netherlands still a serious player in Europe? And, should national parks be reshaped for the modern age? Join Rory and ... Continue2 October 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell’s diary: Don’t take Curtis Yarvin seriously
Yarvin believes liberal democracy has failed and that monarchy should replace it. He just has absolutely no idea how to achieve this... Continue1 October 2025
454. Starmer’s Farage Fightback and Trump’s Unworkable Gaza Plan
Is it too late for Starmer to turn things around? Is Labour talking too much about immigration, and not enough about the cost of living? How can Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza lead to a Pales... Continue30 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
155. Mike Pompeo On Russia, Trump, and China
Why does the former Secretary of State think the US is going too soft on Russia and China? What was it like working closely with President Trump? Why did Putin invade Europe under Obama and B... Continue29 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
453. Trump’s Far Right Allies in Germany: Is History Repeating Itself?
Just how close is the far right to taking power in Europe and the UK? Why is Germany the perfect starting point for far-right agitators? Is Europe’s lacklustre response to an unfolding geno... Continue26 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
452. Question Time: America’s New Martyr and Westminster’s Hidden Spies
Is Charlie Kirk becoming America’s new martyr for the far right? How deep does Chinese spying go in Western politics? And, is Moldova the next target for Russian meddling? The Rest Is Po... Continue25 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
451. Is Trump Destroying the UN?
Is it time to move the United Nations headquarters out of New York? Will recognising Palestine as a state make any difference to the plight of Gaza? Why does Reform UK get so much more covera... Continue24 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
This is a really excellent post, in my opinion. I stay up til about 4-5am on a regular basis, despite having a 7.15 alarm (which by the way is still delivered by an old fashioned alarm clock/radio – for my classic fm needs – it helps me get to sleep).
I also get these random thoughts, such as “when’s the Pope’s bedtime” or “was Henry VIII ever happy?”
Sounds like you had a rough night! Have a safe trip! And good luck with the speech! Of course you know this already, but here’s a friendly reminder: there is heavy demand for notes or a transcript of the speech!! Obrigada!
Join the club. Most night I sleep fine. Every few months I have a stinker. Like you I think a lot about politics and I try to build a dream Cabinet from politicians down thee years. Last time I had Blair as Thatcher’s foreign secretary. Another time she was his overseas development minister. Tebbit is always reshuffled. I keep Churchill in domestic jobs
There is also always the question of when it is late enough to nudge awake the person next to you. I’m a 5 o clock bird
Dear AC
Was one of the four people in the lift,who didn’t speak the same language,Hazel Blears?!
Enjoy the weather
gary enefer
Bizarrely I had a bad night too – not sleepless, but restless. Have been asked to do 3 days work here in Khartoum. But it is 2 weeks before the official end of holiday. Work could be a good opportunity – but won’t be paid much for it. Can’t get thinking pros and cons out of my head. Won’t sleep tonight, leaving for airport 11.45pm, arrive UK 10.30am… perhaps I will sleep on the plane too…
How are the Chelsea players feeling? Ask Sir Alex how he thinks Peter Kenyon is feeling!!!
As an insomniac I used to worry like hell about it and it just got worse. I sleep better now that I don’t worry about it, but still no more than about 5 hrs a might. On a lighter note if you have a few super bocks you’ll sleep tonight, but not feel so great in the morning. Have a good trip and I hope your speech goes well.
Famous Portuguese: I assume you’re visiting Lisbon – on your way into town you’ll probably pass the statue of the Marques de Pombal, at the top of the Av. Liberdade. If you get a break, take the #15 tram out to Belem and look at the Padrao dos Descobrimentos on the waterfront, with its depiction of Henry the Navigator and many others. And Luis Figo may be better known locally than Ronaldo.
Alistair, there is an interesting throwaway line in your post regarding you and Phil Gould never having had a conversation which did not mention the relationship between TB and GB.
Being marooned here in Oz my impressions have been formed by reading just about every book you guys have ever written, along with most of the biographies – not by any personal knowledge or info. But I often used to say to politico journo friends of mine here salivating
over every TB imminent downfall story, that GB would never challenge TB because there was (to quote myself) “far more that unites Blair, Brown and Mandelson at the bottom line that will ever divide them.” And that -again to quote myself – “TB will only ever step down when Gould’s focus groups dictate the end has come”. I was basing this on GB, TB and PM having taken on the Labour party and forced it to reform into a modern, electable, authentic Labour challenger for government, as described so eloquently in Gould’s book.
When PM, TB and yourself pulled the knives out of GB and picked him up from the floor last year it seemed my much-derided view had been vindicated. Recent events – particularly the McBride (Whelan lives again) narrative – indicates otherwise. Perhaps this is a possible source of your insomnia?!
Portugal rocks – Lisbon is one of Europe’s top 10 cities, and far more attractive than, say, Berlin or Brussels. Porto is pretty cool too.
10 famous Portuguese: St Anthony of Padua (born Lisbon); Henry the Navigator; Vasco da Gama; Ferdinando Magellan; Baruch Spinoza; Jose Saramago; Eusebio; Paula Rego; Nelly Furtado; Jose Manuel Barroso – never mind Jose Mourinho, Ronaldo and the three kids who saw the Virgin Mary at Fatima
You’ve described just about every night of my life since I’ve been an adult. I think you mention having half a dozen such nights a year in Os Anos Blair. Lucky guy. Enjoy Portugal.
Ever heard of a gadget called the Pzizz? I’ve used it and can heartily recommend – great for power naps (whcih can help you catch up after a long night) as well as drifting off at bedtime. Also, I like to think of the song Everything’s Alright from Jesus Christ Superstar – I find it has the perfect lyrics in such circumstances, usually sung by a sweet, soothing female voice. But famous portuguese? Crikey, from Vasco da Gama to Luis Figo, there’s loads of ’em!
I could have written that blog myself this morning. The sleepless bit and the random thoughts, not the book promotion, novel writing or speech making, obviously. Top tip: ask Fiona if you can borrow her Touche Eclat to hide the dark circles.
I suffer from insomnia every night. Half my trouble is that I end up lying awake pondering questions like ‘Are there any world famous Portuguese people?’
Having seen other posters’ answers to that question, I would refine it slightly to ‘Are there any famous Portuguese people who aren’t a) footballers or b) Renaissance era explorers?’
Alastair,
Welcome to my world! This has become a part of my life since 9/11 4-6 nights a week.
Conscience.Iraq. Blood. Hands.
A word has kept me awake – you used it on The Speaker. It sounds like epithera (in fact a topical cream)but I can’t find it in any dictionary. Please help.
Reading, it sounds more as if you were writing about me. I can completely relate with almost every single point, and I have come to one loose solution and one loose theory.
Firstly, to pretend that it is perfectly fine for you to be late for whatever it is you have to do tomorrow, even not turn up, is often enough to relax you to sleep. It’s the worry, as you say, of being tired, that keeps you up.
Secondly, I have a theory that using phones as alarm clocks is a huge damage to our sleep. When mine goes off (as I do use my mobile as an alarm), in my usual dazed state, I’m never quite sure whether I’m meant to be getting up or whether someone is trying to get hold of me- and it instils a mini-panic.
Perhaps we should both try real alarm clocks? 😛
Any chance of posting up your crisis communications speech?