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

I know I’m only there for publicity but please can I win the Bad Sex award?

When I was first shortlisted for the Bad Sex in Literature Award, I decided I was happy to be nominated (first novel, all publicity good publicity, and I knew I was only there as a way of the Award or... Continue

19 November 2010

Insight into Cameron’s style of leadership

There are two somewhat conflicting things you hear from inside government about David Cameron's style of leadership. The first is that he has taken to the job of PM as to the manor born. Say what you... Continue

18 November 2010

No wonder Cameron’s smiling. Broken pledges can be buried beneath Royal news

With Royal weddings top of the news agenda, it won't be too long (in historical terms) before Royal babies come along ... which brings me neatly to the subject of midwives, which brings me swiftly to ... Continue

17 November 2010

Coalition hypocrisy – love London 2012, destroy school sport

Subject to the views of the voters of London, the chances are the Olympics in 2012 will be presided over by David Cameron (Tory), Boris Johnson (Tory), Colin Moyniham (Tory), and Seb Coe (Tory). Seb ... Continue

16 November 2010

Happiness not a bad starting point for analysis of policy. The problem is the policy

I am not opposed to the idea, splashed across the Guardian, of including a measurement of happiness and well-being in any assessment of how well or otherwise the country and its families are doing. G... Continue

15 November 2010

As Gove changes school funding, stand by for another Clegg ‘I agonised’ interview

Take a look at Nick Clegg's face and hands in the picture in this Guardian report of how the Lib Dems planned to abandon the tuition fees pledge before the last election. The report makes pretty clea... Continue

13 November 2010

Frontline First?

Throughout the last election campaign, the Tories said till they were even bluer in the face than usual that they would protect the NHS from any looming cuts, and that within the public services more ... Continue

12 November 2010

Should Phil Woolas call Clegg in his defence?

The best bits of Private Eye often come from the spoof press reports, which mock both the people they are about, and often the media and the manner of its reporting. There is one such funny piece thi... Continue

11 November 2010

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.