Alastair Campbell

Biography

Alastair Campbell is best known for his role as former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, Press Secretary and Director of Communications and Strategy.

Even after leaving a full-time role with the Blair government in 2003, he returned for the subsequent three general elections to advise first Blair, then Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband.

He now divides his time between writing, speaking, broadcasting, charities and consultancy work.

After Labour’s famous 1997 landslide election victory Alastair Campbell became the Prime Minister’s Chief Press Secretary co-ordinating the Government’s communications and daily briefings of the press.

He was instrumental in helping Tony Blair win three General Elections and was credited by Mr Blair for coming up with the phrase New Labour.

The former Prime Minister said he was a genius for the role he played in helping to rebrand and modernise the party.

Alastair Campbell’s political career followed a successful career in journalism which began at The Mirror where he rose to become Political Editor and the paper’s Chief Political Columnist.

He has written a string of books including ten volumes of diaries, four novels, a Number 1 best-selling analysis of what it takes to win in politics, business and sport.

His work raising awareness of mental heath resulted in an award-winning one hour documentary on BBC2 about his own breakdown in 1986 and he went on to make a further BBC documentary My Depression and Me.

He has also made an award-winning documentary about Burnley FC and another BBC documentary about alcoholism.

And Alastair Campbell also co-hosts ITV’s Good Morning Britain.