Featured

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

New shadow cabinet must now defend better, attack better, and win the future better

As Liam Fox and Chris Huhne were embarrassing themselves and the government last night, I won't have been the only one to have liked the younger, more feminine look of the new shadow cabinet. But I a... Continue

8 October 2011

Cameron’s ‘growth plan’ passage tells me he just couldn’t be arsed yesterday

I fear I may have been overly kind to the Prime Minister when I described his speech as 'very average' on twitter yesterday. This was certainly on the kinder end of the comment spectrum. It would seem... Continue

6 October 2011

If catflap is best Tories can do, no wonder FT Europe imposes blackout

Greetings from Vienna airport where I am waiting for a plane, worrying about the unseasonal heat, getting irritated by a couple who are kissing their dog like it is a baby, and trying to find a single... Continue

5 October 2011

Can someone tell me what this Tory conference is all about?

For various reasons I have seen no news coverage and read no newspaper reports of the Tory conference since Sunday morning. This has not been a deliberate snub to one of the two ruling parties, just t... Continue

4 October 2011

On the Tories’ lack of a clear message, and the unlikelihood of me playing bagpipes with Bob Dylan

I have never felt I have that much in common with David Cameron, but today we share a modest traducement by The Sunday Times. The Prime Minister's comes in the form of a headline saying 'Cameron says... Continue

2 October 2011

Today’s FT shows more progress in schools under Labour – who need to fight back harder against Tory rubbishing of record

With thanks to Labour's media monitoring department, and to the Financial Times, here is the first's account of the second's report today on school standards. ‘Poorer pupils seen to be catching up ... Continue

1 October 2011

Robert Enke’s story is more important than Rio Ferdindand’s

While the press revels in the judgement that allows them to carry on with kiss and tell stories about footballers (provided they are England captain it would seem) I would like to focus not on Rio Fer... Continue

30 September 2011

If the press are wrong about Ed, it won’t be the first time they’ve called the instant judgement badly

An interesting little passage in Polly Toynbee's column in The Guardian this morning, as she described the post-Ed speech process in the press room at Liverpool. "'Lurching to the left' and 'Red Ed' ... Continue

28 September 2011

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.