Ten very good questions for today’s briefing

Though I am sorry he can't sleep, I am very happy if I helped inspire the blog posted this morning by former Welsh government minister Leighton Andrews. Like me, Leighton knows both sides of the gove... Continue

14 April 2020

Posted by Alastair Campbell

my rants, rambles and ruminations on this wretched covid crisis so far

I'll be honest, this is partly just a bit of personal auditing, my tidy mind needing to keep track of what I have been writing over recent days and weeks of lockdown. It helps when I am writing to ke... Continue

13 April 2020

Posted by Alastair Campbell

https://vimeo.com/406580738

Thank you for the music … in every language in the world

If you're not a regular reader of The Article, (I recommend it) you will have missed this, which I would say of the many many pieces I have written since lockdown, is my favourite ... It is time f... Continue

9 April 2020

Posted by Alastair Campbell

How the queen, and an act of kindness by a stranger, have brought fond memories flooding back

A couple of weeks go, I wrote here setting out some tips for guarding against depression and anxiety. So far so good for me; indeed I am adapting to self-isolation perhaps too well! But I am aware ma... Continue

7 April 2020

Posted by Alastair Campbell

taking stock of government handling of the crisis so far … time for someone to get a grip …

I always write a lot, but at the moment, I seem to be in an unstoppable overdrive. That, insomnia, and really weird dreams in the few hours that I do sleep, seem to be the main side effects of the Co... Continue

5 April 2020

Posted by Alastair Campbell

Hard fact and detail beat rhetoric and SLOGAN EVERY TIME – 20 random observations on the crisis so far

If you've been here before, you will know this is not a new theme for me. But it is worth keeping going, not least for the message received from inside government yesterday, 'some of them are listeni... Continue

4 April 2020

Posted by Alastair Campbell

questions slightly better, answers worse – these briefings are not serving the public interest well

The daily Downing Street briefings are an important part of the Covid-19 crisis landscape. They are not serving the public well. Ministers are reading an already tired message script, giving some ... Continue

1 April 2020

Posted by Alastair Campbell

20 phrases that should be banished from Covid-19 briefings

Another day, after another night waking just after 3, and another idea for another 20-point list whirling around my head. This one was partly inspired by the weekend briefing by Business Secretary Al... Continue

30 March 2020

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.