Good for Gordon
My Latest Book
Alastair Campbell Diaries Volume 7
From Crash to Defeat
by
Alastair Campbell
Caught in the no man’s land between being a key figure in Downing Street and the relative anonymity of the world outside politics, Alastair Campbell finds himself being torn in several directions as this latest volume of diaries opens. Having succeeded Tony Blair as Prime Minister, Gordon Brown wants Campbell at his side. Campbell resists, flooding his reservoir of guilt as a general election looms and Brown’s indecision and fluctuating moods suggest the Labour administration is seriously threatened by the Tory ‘posh boy’, David Cameron.
Soon Campbell is earning not only praise but big money from motivational speaking and writing novels which darkly reflect the mood swings that continue to concern both him and his family. Serious journalism across platforms old and new puts him back in the public eye and together with live appearances and a love of sport – his enduring love affair with Burnley Football Club still smoulders – sees him board a celebrity merry-go-round that often leaves him far from his comfort zone.
With politics constantly tugging his sleeve, he eventually returns to the front line to marshal a party in disarray. The intensity of the months leading up to 6 May 2010 is as dramatic as any screenplay, with Campbell chronicling Brown’s struggle to win over a disillusioned nation and then his dignified departure from the main stage. For Campbell, another chapter closes. So what next?
great Vlog, thank you. Agree re Clegg. The objective should be to make it easier for the public to vote for the person they believe will deliver the vision they want. Not sure that having a 3 way debate is going to help that process.
PMQs was fairly lively as you said in your tweet, but Gordon should not just go on about figures, but beliefs. I thought his tribute to Michael Foot was flat and he did not react fast enough to Cameron going off on one first about the military being Tories and then the one about the Tories winning the Cold War. I dread to think what your old boss would have done with that one … Cameron would be somewhere near Big Ben right now
Expectations for Gordon low. Cameron too glib for a long series of exchanges but Clegg will give him breathing space. Btw, ever thought of transcribing the vlogs and putting the words on the blog??
I realise we live in an Orwellian state where the truth is what Big Brother Brown says it is regardless of the evidence, so maybe I’m entirely missing the point but you’ve twice in videos said that his record is a positive. I’m going to resist the temptation to do the wide-ranging list thing and just ask how you can see the record on his relationship with the military as good for Gordon. Eminent military personnel, senior civil servants and even a coroner have all come out directly and indirectly referring to the inadequate backing the forces received from the PM when he was Chancellor. Isn’t the voter likely to disregard the PM’s protests to the contrary and conclude that these numerous and consistent data points evidence an appalling record in relation to the military? How is that a positive?
I have rejoined the Labour Party largely because of these blogs. I was a member around 1997 and worked at the count in Stonehaven – one of the best nights of my life. It may seem odd but I have a similar feeling as pre 1997 win. I think Gordon is coming into form at just the right time and I think Cameron will be shown up in the debates. There is a change in the air – it’s all to play for.
I’ve just watched the snippet of PMQ’s which is linked to at the Labour List blog as “Cameron loses his rag”. This is the part about the funding for the troops in Afghanistan.
Cameron gets very red in the face and looks a bit ridiculous, but Brown remains absolutely calm and in control of what he is saying.
In that situation Brown is the clear winner. In the TV debates I feel that it would be great if Brown utilises his ability to remain calm.