Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell is a writer, communicator and strategist 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, he now divides his time between writing, speaking, charitable fundraising, politics and campaigns. And, of course, his hugely successful 2024 podcast with Rory Stewart, The Rest Is Politics.

He was born in Yorkshire in 1957, the son of a vet. His family moved to Leicester in 1968, where he was educated prior to Cambridge University. He graduated with a degree in modern languages.  Campbell’s journalistic career began with the Mirror Group on local papers in the West Country before joining the Mirror itself. He left to work for Eddy Shah’s Today newspaper as news editor.

He then worked briefly for Today under new ownership in before being asked by Tony Blair to be his press secretary when Mr Blair became leader of the Labour Party. He did this for three years, and played a key role helping to create New Labour and return the Party to power. After the ’97 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. He did this job for Labour’s first term but after helping Blair win a second election victory, he became Director of Communications and Strategy. He resigned in 2003.

Passionate about sport, he was written about different sports 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 him 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 St 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 now publishing four volumes of his full diaries. In 2008 his first novel All In The Mind was published while his second Maya, which analyses fame and the obsession it attracts, appeared in 2010.

In 2008 he broadcast a one hour documentary on BBC Two about his own mental health issues that he endured in his younger days. 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 received a Mind Champion of the Year Award in recognition of his work and campaigning on the issue.

In recent years Alastair Campbell he has been spending his time speaking, writing, working for his charity and creating that very popular political podcast!

Contact Alastair Campbell via a Specialist Speakers agent on 01455 633289 for speaking and presentation in both in-person and virtual settings.