Alastair Campbell Diaries Volume 5: Never Really Left, 2003 - 2005

Description

Never Really Left is the first of four new volumes of diaries from Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's former chief press secretary and director of communications and strategy. It begins in 2003, where the previous instalment, The Burden of Power, ended, with Campbell's departure from Downing Street. Despite having left government, Campbell's level of involvement barely abated: he continued to advise Blair - and later Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband - and played a key role in every election campaign since. The diaries open as Lord Hutton prepares to publish his report, sparking a huge crisis for the BBC. But any joy in No. 10 is dwarfed by continuing difficulties in Iraq. Meanwhile the Blair-Brown relationship is fracturing almost beyond repair and Campbell is tasked by both with devising a plan that will enable the two men to come together to fight a united election campaign. Away from politics, the diaries talk frankly about Campbell's continued struggles with mental health issues, as well as his work in sport and his return to journalism as he tries to find a new purpose in life. Never Really Left is a vivid and essential record of an important period in modern political history.

Alastair Campbell was born in Keighley, Yorkshire in 1957, the son of a vet. Having graduated from Cambridge University in modern languages, he went into journalism, principally with the Mirror Group. When Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party, Campbell worked for him first as press secretary, then as official spokesman and director of communications and strategy from 1994 to 2003. He continued to act as an advisor to Mr Blair and the Labour Party, including during the 2005 and subsequent election campaigns. He is now engaged mainly in writing, public speaking and consultancy and is an ambassador for a number of mental health charities.He lives in north London with his partner of thirty-seven years, Fiona Millar, with whom he has three grown-up children. His interests include running, cycling, playing the bagpipes and following the varying fortunes of Burnley Football Club. This is his twelfth book since leaving Downing Street.

"Endlessly fascinating... Alastair Campbell's diaries are a unique historical document, providing testimony from the day things happened, unedited by memory and hindsight." - John Rentoul, The Independent; "Hugely gripping" - Sunday Times; "This is the most fascinating of all the volumes. He is at the centre of everything but with a different perspective" - Steve Richards; "Unputdownable. [A] truly remarkable, fascinating and historic account. Could this be a record of Labour's last ever election win?" - Richard Madeley