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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

It’s Mind week – Get it off your Chest with me and Stephen Fry

I have no idea how days and weeks come to be such and such Day and such and such Week, but I do know that today sees the start of Mind week. I know because I am on my way to the BBC to talk it up on R... Continue

11 May 2009

Hate the Mail, love Obama

So I wake to a lovely sunny day, remember that Fiona is away, reflect warmly on yesterday's win, delete the latest rash of radio and TV messages asking me to do an interview on MPs expenses, then wond... Continue

10 May 2009

Burnley 1 Reading 0 – a biased report

Well, it was not the greatest game I've ever seen, not even the best I've seen this month, but the way Burnley fans celebrated at the end, you'd have thought we'd just knocked Chelsea out of the Champ... Continue

9 May 2009

MPs expenses – time for party leaders to meet again

A few weeks ago, when the expenses row was simmering not boiling, David Cameron suggested to Gordon Brown that he and Nick Clegg (the leader of the Liberal Democrats) get together and try to work out ... Continue

9 May 2009

Should happiness replace prosperity as national goal?

John Prescott once gave Tony Blair a gift of a plastic fish which, if you pressed it, would sing 'don't worry, be happy' to the former Prime Minister.  I thought of that as I read  the views on the... Continue

8 May 2009

Musings from a sleepless night

If you read The Blair Years, you will know that I get the occasional night of insomnia. This is the end of one. Fiona always says, when I nudge her awake to say I haven't slept, 'you've slept more t... Continue

7 May 2009

Darren Fletcher – an injustice that has to be righted

Despite the objections of one son, who thinks Burnley fans should not attend Manchester United matches, I went with my other son, who supports Manchester United, to see his team beat Arsenal. It was ... Continue

6 May 2009

Maggie’s legacy not as great as she thinks

The right-wing papers have had a showering of hagiography for Margaret Thatcher in recent days, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of her coming to power. Most of it has focussed on the economic (... Continue

5 May 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.