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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

Union and public anger fuelled by the feeling that we’re not really all in this together at all

Simon Kuper, best known for his writings on sport, has an excellent column in the FT magazine today. It is never easy to reduce a rich column to a sentence or two, but his main point is that in our ce... Continue

18 June 2011

In defence of politics – a lecture worth reading, from a rather lonely voice

Welcome to what is surely the longest blogpost put up here since I started blogging some time ago. It certainly has the longest paragraphs, but bear with me - that's what happens when you get academic... Continue

17 June 2011

On Osborne’s speech, Peston’s tie, and Labour’s need to unpick Tory argument on the past

The noise surrounding it would suggest George Osborne made an important speech last night. Northern Rock sell-off and banking reform seemed to take most of the coverage, big ticket items both. So for... Continue

16 June 2011

As Yardy takes another break, Boycott shows he is beginning to understand depression is an illness

Back in March, more in sorrow than in anger, I wrote a blogpost critical of my childhood hero Geoffrey Boycott, who had some some rather insensitive things about Michael Yardy, who had come home from ... Continue

15 June 2011

A figure from our past emerges to tell a wonderful Titanic tale

A long time ago a man named Christopher Ward became a very important person in my life. I have often thought that if my meeting with him 30-odd years ago had not gone so well, I might never have becom... Continue

14 June 2011

John Prescott’s spat with Sunday Times underlines extent of made up anonymous quotes in papers

Good to see that John Prescott has lost none of his old fire, and none of his new ability to use social media to get heard. His extraction via twitter of an apology from the Sunday Times over a quote... Continue

13 June 2011

Twitterbanter with Piers apart, the Jonathan Rees questions will have to be answered

Whether people agree or disagree with what the Blair government did with regard to Iraq, I don't think anyone can say we have not answered questions on the subject. In addition to the four inquiries ... Continue

12 June 2011

In light of Robert Gates’ speech, Cameron should set European defence reform as major objective

By far the most significant UK political event yesterday was the speech by outgoing US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. His warning to European allies that they risked military irrelevance, and that t... Continue

11 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.