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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 Labour politics, he now splits his time
between writing, speaking, charitable fund-raising, politics and
campaigns. Born in Yorkshire in 1957 the son of a vet, his family
moved to Leicester in 1968, where he attended school until going to
Cambridge University in 1975. He graduated four years later with a
degree in modern languages. His university education included a year in
France when he had his first "journalism" published, articles on sex in
Forum magazine. He also busked around the world with his bagpipes. |
| Finally he decided to become a journalist
and trained with the Mirror Group on local papers in the West Country
before joining the Mirror itself in 1982. He left in the mid 80's to
work for Eddy Shah's Today newspaper as news editor but had a nervous
breakdown and left to return to the Mirror after convalescence. He rose
to become political editor and the paper's chief political columnist. He
then worked briefly for Today under new ownership in 1994 before being
asked by Tony Blair to be his press secretary when Mr Blair became
leader of the Labour Party. He held this role for three years, playing a
key role helping to create New Labour and return the party to power.
After the 1997 election he became the Prime Minister's Chief Press
Secretary and Official Spokesman, which entailed the co-ordination of
government communications and twice daily briefings of the press. After
assisting Mr Blair in winning a second landslide election victory, he
became Director of Communications and Strategy. He resigned in September
2003, saying it had been enormous privilege but he wanted more of a life
with his partner Fiona and their three children. His main hobbies are
running, cycling, bagpipes and following Burnley FC. He took up running
six years ago at the instigation of his sons and he has since run the
London Marathon, the Great North Run, and the Great Ethiopian Run and
completed several full triathlons for Leukaemia Research Fund, his best
friend having been killed by the disease. He is the charity’s chairman
of fund-raising, currently focused on seeking fifty donations of 50,000
pounds for the charity’s fiftieth anniversary. He returned to the Labour
Party for six months prior to the 2005 general election and continues to
advise the party informally. He is one of the party’s most in-demand
speakers at fund-raising and motivational events, and was a founder of
the GoFourth campaign aimed at focusing Party activists and the
public on the need to understand the real choices facing Britain.
Together with former sports minister Richard Caborn, he pulled together
two of the most successful fund-raising dinners in Labour’s history,
both on the theme of sport at Wembley stadium.
Passionate about sport, he has written articles for The Times,
the Irish Times and Esquire magazine. He was
communications adviser to the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of New
Zealand in 2005. He has raised funds for Burnley FC, a team he has
supported since the age of four. His charity projects have involved
playing football with both Diego Maradona and Pele, and appearing in a
one off version of the popular TV programme, The Apprentice.
In his time in Downing Street he was involved in all the major policy
issues and international crises. He has said that in ten years in the
media, and a decade in politics, he saw his respect for the media fall
and his respect for politics rise. He is a sought after speaker at
events around the world, specialising in strategic communications. On
July 9 2007, he published his first book detailing his time with Tony
Blair, The Blair Years, extracts from his diaries from 1994 to
2003, which was an instant Sunday Times Number 1 best-seller.
He published his first novel, All In The Mind, in November
2008, and is currently writing a second, due for publication later this
year, on the theme of fame and friendship. Last year he broadcast a one
hour documentary on BBC2 about his own breakdown in 1986. Both the film,
Cracking Up, and All In The Mind, won considerable
praise from mental health charities and campaign groups for helping to
break down the taboo surrounding mental health. He is shortly to front a
mental health campaign aimed further at breaking down stigma.
SPEAKING
Alastair Campbell is a sought after public speaker
in Britain and abroad. Drawing on his experience of ten years alongside
Tony Blair, and his considerable understanding of the modern media, he
specialises in strategy, making change, dealing with the media and
crisis management – often at the same time.
Dozens of testimonials from a wide variety of businesses,
organisations and conference organisers have paid tribute to his skills
as an engaging and innovative speaker able to apply his insights and
experience to the work of others with wit and passion. He liaises
directly with event organisers in advance so as to tailor a presentation
to their specific needs. Often controversial, and always prepared to
speak his mind, he is willing, and indeed keen, to make a question and
answer session part of his presentations.
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