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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

On China, consumer spending, and crime, three big bad straws in the wind for Osborne

First, a postscript from my last blogpost, on China ... yesterday Premier Wen Jiabao presided over the signing of deals with Germany worth almost £10billion (compared with the £1.4bn trade agreement... Continue

29 June 2011

The risks in getting balance between human rights and Chinese trade and power

Not speaking a word of Mandarin, I find it hard to work out exactly how hacked off Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was with David Cameron's stance on human rights yesterday. 'Finger-pointing' is certainly... Continue

28 June 2011

Too hot to blog

Too hot to blog ... that's it. Apart from Well Done Andy, get well Adele, get real Gove and welcome Wen Jiabao ... I was going to say something meaningful about Anglo-Chinese relations ... but it rea... Continue

27 June 2011

Back from the bikeathon, inspired once more by 13-year-old Joe Smale

I'm just back from the London Bikeathon, another 52 miles in the legs, and a dose of sunburn on the neck. But, as ever, it was a terrific way to spend the morning, with 5000 other cyclists raising mon... Continue

26 June 2011

Whacking public services now a clear political strategy to match economic strategy of cuts

I was surprised there were no ministers at the Local Government Awards organised by the Municipal Journal last night. It was one of those events at which, if memory serves me right, Labour always trie... Continue

24 June 2011

From Dream school to a real school making a real difference; and meeting Big Brother Lansley

Why did it have to be Piers Morgan who spotted the spelling error - I am OBSESSED about spelling - in my tweet from a school in Harrow? No, not that school in Harrow, but St Gregory's Catholic Science... Continue

22 June 2011

I hope someone asks Cameron about Guardian splash on mental health at his press conference

Like many mental health campaigners, I gave Nick Clegg the benefit of the doubt when he outlined the government's strategy for mental health in February. To save you reading the whole thing, here is ... Continue

21 June 2011

A new version of an old Cliff Richard song could be biggest feelgood dampener yet

It is always wise to be a little suspicious of stories which emerge from private sector surveys, particularly if designed as what journalists in the pre no-deadline online age used to call a 'Sunday f... Continue

20 June 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.