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Europe needs to get real on defence; Britain needs to get real on Europe

Below is the text of a speech I am making this evening to the Labour Movement for Europe, urging a change in approach by Labour, to be bolder in the terms of the "reset" that is promised, clearer in ... Continue

Coalition nodding dogs oblivious to unintended consequences

As Nick Clegg and Vince Cable were standing on their heads once more yesterday, and quietly forgetting their 'I pledge' posters on student finance, I was back in my classroom with a group of teenagers... Continue

13 October 2010

Fight to protect mental health services, and celebrate Harlem’s political awakening

Yesterday was World Mental Health Day ... I know, I know, every day seems to be something or other day, and nobody is ever quite sure what you're meant to do with them, or who decides which day is whi... Continue

11 October 2010

The day my challenging student warned Cheltenham of war over benefit cuts

The Cheltenham Literature Festival seems to get bigger every year. It is possible to see the growth of literary festivals as part of the celebrity culture - so there I was, darling, chatting to Salman... Continue

10 October 2010

Cameron and Miliband could learn a lot from Monsieur Wenger

I was interviewed by a student paper the other day, and asked what I had wanted to be when I was 7, 14 and 21. The answer was footballer, footballer and footballer even if, probably by age 7, and c... Continue

8 October 2010

People strangely unmoved by Cameron, but Labour need to get going now

To the lovely setting of Knowsley Park near Liverpool last night, and a speech to pensions experts. No, wait, wait, the specific brief was 'anything but pensions' so don't go away. Of course pensions... Continue

7 October 2010

Tory conference spin operation could do with some AC grip

I'm a bit cross with DC. I didn't see his interview on Channel 4 yesterday, but it popped up on my Google alert (an excellent device that lets you know who's saying what about you) when he defended A... Continue

6 October 2010

I wonder if my challenging student knows better than Osborne re benefit cuts

As George Osborne was speaking to the Tory conference, I was heading for my second lesson with 20 youngsters who have gone through the education system without much success. Their homework had been t... Continue

5 October 2010

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.