Alastair Campbell

Full name Alistair John Campbell (b. 25 May 1957 in Keigley, Yorkshire) is a British journalist, author and political activist and publicist for the Labour Party. He was the Director of Communication and Strategy for the Tony Blair government between 1997 and 2003.

Life and Career in Politics

Alastair Campbell was educated at City of Leicester Boys' School. Then he read Modern Languages at the University of Cambridge from 1975 to 1979. Gathering first journalistic experience during a stay abround in France, he entered professional journalism after he had completed his degree. He trained with the Mirror Group local papers from 1980 to 1982 before the Mirror itself in 1982. He later left Mirror to become news editor of Today newspaper until he had a nervous breakdown, an event which is said to have had enormous on his further work. He then returned to his former employer where he become a political editor and columnist. He later was a political adviser to Neil Kinnock, then Labour Leader and Leader of the Opposition.

When Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party in 1994 he asked Campbell to become his press secretary. He accepted Blair's offer, doing the job for the nest three years and contributing significantly to the creation of New Labour and Labour Party coming back to power in the 1997 general elections.

After the success in the 1997 elections Alistair Campbell was made Chief Press Secretary and Official Spokesman of the government. He co-ordinated the government communications which also included briefings of the press twice a day. After the 2001 general elections he became Director of Communications and Strategy, a position he resigned from in 2003.

After the Blair Years

After resigning from his post in the Blair Government Alistair Campbnell published autobiographical works based on his years with Tony Blair and as a member of the Blair Government which were controversially discussed in the British media. His memoirs were based on his extensive diaries during the years with Blair before and after the latter one was elected Prime Minister. He stated himself that editing his notes on this period of time took him two years after he had left No 10 Downing Street He further published works of fiction. Moreover, he is a charity activist for Leukaemia and Lymphomia Research and political speaker.

Reception

Alistair Campbell is considered very infuential on Blair and his political activities and was frequently called "the unofficial deputy prime minister", "Tony Blair’s twin" and "the true architect of New Labour". His way of dealing with the media was innovative and helped Labour come to power, especially as he was responsible fot the influential newspapers The Sun and The Times arguing for New Labour in the general elections. It, however, was also criticized as damaging Tony Blair's reputation.

The belligerent and sweary Scottish director of communications Malcolm Tucker in the sitcom The Thick of It (2005-2012) resembles Campbell. The series satirises strategies of spin and spin-doctoring.

Publications

Autobiographical Works:

Campbell, Alistair. The Blair Years: Extracts from The Alistair Campbell Diaries. London: Hutchinson, 2007.

Campbell, Alistair. Prelude to Power: The Alistair Campbell Diaries Volume One: 1994-1997. London: Hutchinson, 2010.

Campbell, Alistair. Power and the People: The Alastair Campbell Diaries Volume Two: May 1997 to June 1999. London: Hutchinson, 2010.

Campbell, Alistair. Power and Responsibility: The Alastair Campbell Diaries Volume Three: 1999 to 2001. London: Hutchinson, 2011.

Fiction:

Campbell, Alistair. All In The Mind. London: Hutchinson, 2008.

Campbell, Alistair. Maya. London: Hutchinson, 2010.

Sources

[1] Accessed July 2, 2011.

[2] Accessed July 2, 2011.

[3] Accessed July 2, 2011.

[4] Accessed July 6, 2011.

[5] Accessed July 6, 2011.