Alastair Campbell in Conversation: Politics, the People and the Press

For 10 years Alastair Campbell was Tony Blair’s right-hand man as communications strategist and chief spokesman, often witnessing history in the making. As the most influential Government advisor, Alastair was no stranger to controversy, working the headlines and occasionally making them. He is one of four credited with creating New Labour, fighting numerous battles in their pursuit of modernisation. He was reviled by parts of the media but still respected for his commitment, creativity, loyalty and work rate.

At this wide-ranging conversation with Steve Richards, chief political commentator of The Independent, Alastair discusses the complexities of political communication and influencing, and compares his days at the heart of policy making to the changed world where social media increasingly dominates.

Still active in Labour politics, he has since split his time between speaking, charitable fundraising, and campaigns and writing three volumes of his diaries and two novels.

Established as one of the most influential political commentators in the country, Steve Richards became The Independent’s chief political commentator in 2000, having been political editor of The New Statesman. He presents GMTV's flagship current affairs show The Sunday Programme and Radio 4’s Week in Westminster.