As Entwistle falls on his sword, I wonder what Chris Patten’s next big Establishment job will be

Chris Patten, the son of a jazzman, and a Catholic, is not a traditional Establishment figure. But one of the powers of our Establishment is its ability to allow in certain outsiders, provided they th... Continue

11 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Obama learns from Abraham Lincoln, as they all do. But there are lessons from Lyndon Johnson too

By an accident of timing, I was reading the latest of Robert Caro's vast books on Lyndon Johnson on a flight yesterday, and reached the point where President Kennedy was assassinated, and Johnson had ... Continue

7 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

On France’s non economy, German efficiency, and Helmut Schmidt’s view of the world

I know there are few things more irritating than powerful or well-known names (I was allegedly the former once, and in so allegedly being became the latter in some parts of the world) hitting the blog... Continue

4 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Guardian editorial on Leveson gives far too much credence to Dacre-Murdoch vested interests protection plan

I would not normally concern myself too much with the sleeping patterns of the editor of The Guardian, but judging by his editorial on the upcoming Leveson Report, I sense a lot of tossing and turning... Continue

2 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Hezza shows the new boys what a growth plan looks like

As I predicted on Sunday, Michael Heseltine's response to the silly briefing against him by Osborne and Co has been to crank up rather than wind down his interventionist ideas to get growth going. St... Continue

31 October 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Good to see Ed Miliband focusing on economic as well as social gains of changed attitudes to mental health

Ed Miliband's speech on mental health today is a significant - and good - moment in the campaign to improve understanding and treatment of mental illness in Britain. It is perhaps particulalry signif... Continue

29 October 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Heseltine comes up with sensible interventionist ideas to boost growth – so Osborne briefs against him

Michael Heseltine will be sitting with a cup of coffee at his country pile, thinking about when to take a tour of his fabulous gardens, whilst flicking through the Sunday papers, a ritual through the ... Continue

28 October 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Cameron’s alcohol strategy is missing the point – a guest blog from a recovering middle class alcoholic

Interesting morning in a series of meetings covering variously alcohol abuse, Page 3 girls (and the campaign to get The Sun to drop them and so catch up with the modern world), banks and their diversi... Continue

26 October 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Despite the past, a little support for the BBC, victims of changed prism syndrome

I have refrained from saying too much about the Jimmy Savile saga, not least because any time I mention anything to do with a BBC 'crisis,' out from the woodwork come those who continue to defend the ... Continue

24 October 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell is a writer, communicator and strategist best known for his role as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy. Still active in politics and campaigns in Britain and overseas, he now splits his time between writing, speaking, broadcasting, charities and consultancy.

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