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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

Lance Armstrong liked to play the long game. David Walsh has played even longer, and won

I don't recall exactly where and when it was that I met journalist David Walsh, not long after I had met Lance Armstrong for the first time, but I do recall his shock tinged with anger that I had 'fal... Continue

20 January 2013

Cameron’s speech timetabling shambles underlines his DNA problem – all tactics no strategy

Here is a piece I have done for The Guardian today. I sometimes wish we had patented "The Grid", the scheduling tool New Labour developed in opposition and subsequently used in government to seek to... Continue

15 January 2013

What did the Romans ever do for us (EU section)?

As David Cameron seemingly spends another weekend deciding whether, where and when to make his much vaunted speech on Europe ... as the rest of us ponder the remarkable failure of leadership that has ... Continue

12 January 2013

Lincoln film, not to mention TB’s first 2.5 years compared with Cameron’s, reminds what a pygmological government we have

I was lucky enough to go last night to a preview of Lincoln, the new film about America's greatest President. Immediate thoughts - Daniel Day Lewis nailed on for an Oscar, great decision by Spielberg ... Continue

10 January 2013

Slowly re-emerging from novel-writing hibernation to see a government that is there for the taking

It's flattering I suppose when people notice ... that I have not been blogging much. It is becoming a new year tradition, like stomach upsets, broken resolutions, sacked football managers and tiny FA ... Continue

9 January 2013

Gove helping to destroy Olympic legacy plans. What does he have against sport exactly?

The BBC did a brilliant job with their Sports Personality show on Sunday. If I had one small complaint it was in the air-brushing of any politics or politicians from the narrative. 'Keep politics out... Continue

18 December 2012

Good to know Team Gove was rattled by Any Questions blog – here is their (sic) rebuttal

Michael Gove, with his little army of supporters in the media and on the Tory backbenchers, is not used to being challenged over his potty policies which win the support of the mainly privately educat... Continue

16 December 2012

The media love Michael Gove, but the Any Questions audience was not so gullible

I hope those inside the political bubble who constantly define Michael Gove as 'one of the few successes' of the Cameron government find time to listen to Friday's Any Questions on Iplayer. Gove's ma... Continue

15 December 2012

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.