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166. John Swinney: An Independent Scotland Is An Open Scotland

What is the future of the Scottish independence movement? How does the SNP rebuild trust and support for independence after a series of bruising scandals? Why did the Scottish First Minister ... Continue

Cameron’s Conservatism beyond parody

If you'd watched the BBC News last night, you'd have thought Rory Bremner had given up his serious commentator bit and gone back to being a funny impersonator dreaming up lines that no politician, sur... Continue

9 September 2009

On transforned cities, and tales of Princess Di and Laura Bush

I've just been for a longish run along the Newcastle quayside, which confirmed me in the view I tweeted last night - that this area has seen a real transformation since the days of successive Tory gov... Continue

8 September 2009

Labour should put minister up against Griffin on Question Time

BBC Question Time is not alone among programmes in wanting to attract as much attention to itself as it can. In a noisy, crowded marketplace, where viewers have almost infinite choice of how to spend ... Continue

6 September 2009

School speech the latest source of right-wing frothing at Obama

If you want a taste of what Barack Obama is up against in the ferocity and the bovinity, if such a word exists, of right-wing Americans, scour around the place for some of the reaction to the Presiden... Continue

5 September 2009

More horse’s mouth, less Beeb blah please

Keen to find out what Gordon Brown said in his speech about Afghanistan, I tuned into the BBC News Channel at 9pm. What bits I saw seemed good. Clear about why our troops are there. Clear about the li... Continue

4 September 2009

Real respect for sport can be Olympic legacy

In Paris for a TV programme, I wake up, get ready to go for a run, then take a look at the pouring rain and decide the hotel gym treadmill might be a better idea. (Cue my favourite treadmill story, ab... Continue

4 September 2009

First ladies watch out for Japanese bombshell

Litttle did I know, blogging a few days ago on the potential significance of a change of government in Japan, that the new Prime Minister would be bringing with him a wife who was once abducted by ali... Continue

3 September 2009

TV debate – good idea in theory, but …

Into my inbox last night popped an email from someone at Sky suggesting that whatever else I might be doing, I really ought to drop it, and tune in to watch political editor Adam Boulton at 10pm. No d... Continue

2 September 2009

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.