The Blair Years Book

The Blair Years is the most compelling and revealing account of contemporary politics you will ever read. Taken from Alastair Campbell's daily diaries it charts the rise of New Labour and the tumultuous years of Tony Blair's leadership providing the first important record of a remarkable decade in our national life. ; ; Here are the defining events of our time from Labour's new dawn to the war on terror from the death of Diana to negotiations for peace in Northern Ireland from Kosovo Afghanistan and Iraq through to the Hutton Inquiry of 2003 the year Campbell resigned his position at No 10. But above all here is Tony Blair up close and personal taking the decisions that affected the lives of millions under relentless and often hostile pressure. ; ; Often described as the second most powerful figure in Britain Alastair Campbell is no stranger to controversy. Feared and admired in equal measure hated by some he was pivotal to the founding of New Labour and the sensational election victory of 1997. As Blair's press secretary strategist and trusted confidant Campbell spent more waking hours alongside the Prime Minister than anyone. His diaires - at times brutally frank often funny always compelling - take the reader right to the heart of government. ; ; The Blair Years is a story of politics in the raw of progress and setback of reputations made and destroyed under the relentless scrutiny of a 24-hour media. Unflinchingly told it covers the crises and scandals the rows and resignations the ups and downs of Britain's hothouse politics. But amid the big events are insights and observations that make this a remarkably human portrayal of some of the most powerful people in the world. ; ; There has never been so riveting a book about life at the very top nor a more human book about politics told by a man who saw it all. ; ; Author Biography: ; Alastair Campbell was born in Keighley Yorkshire in 1957 the son of a vet. After graduating from Cambridge University in modern languages his first chosen career was journalism principally with the Mirror Group. When Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party he asked Campbell to be his press secretary. He worked for Blair - first in that capacity then as official spokesman and director of communications and strategy - from 1994 to 2003 since when he has been engaged mainly in writing public speaking and working for Leukaemia Research where he is chairman of fundraising. He has continued to act as an advisor to Mr Blair and the Labour Party including during the 2005 election campaign. He lives in North London with his partner of 25 years Fiona Millar. They have three children Rory 19 Calum 17 and Grace 12. His interests include running triathlon bagpipes and Burnley Football Club.Read More