No matter how good or bad Crosby may be, Cameron remains the problem

Quite a few journalists at last night's Portland Communications pub quiz, and one or two of them asking me what I thought of the Tories' planned hiring of Australian consultant Lynton Crosby. The gene... Continue

21 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Guest blog from a young writer who has captured UK drink problem, alongside real desire for community

There are a few statements regularly made by members of the public that are guaranteed to get my blood raging. ... no point voting ... politicians all the same ... nothing ever changes ... no point gi... Continue

19 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Easy to blame politicians and media for apathy, but public need to take a look at themselves too

The government has rightly been criticised for the lacklustre nature of their campaign to promote the need for their 'flagship' policy of Police Crime Commissioners. Likewise the media has been crit... Continue

17 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Practical lessons for Labour from Obama’s re-election – guest blog

This blog comes courtesy of a friend of mine, Greg Nugent, who until recently was part of the London 2012 team under Seb Coe which helped deliver the best Olympic and Paralympic Games ever. It must... Continue

15 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Guest blog from Rethink chief executive Paul Jenkins on Schizophrenia Commission Report

Slowly, progress is being made on the mental health front. The government has committed to parity of treatment between mental and physical illnesses. Ed Miliband made an important speech recently m... Continue

14 November 2012

Posted by Alastair Campbell

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

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.