Alastair Campbell

About

Alastair is a writer, communicator and strategist best known for his role as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy. Still active in Labour politics, he now splits his time between writing, speaking, charitable fundraising, politics and campaigns.

Alastair Campbell was born in Yorkshire in 1957, the son of a vet. His family moved to Leicester in 1968, and he went to school there until going to Cambridge University in 1975. He graduated with a degree in modern languages. Alastair decided to become a journalist and trained with the Mirror Group on local papers in the West Country before joining the Mirror itself in 1982.

Alastair rose to become political editor and the paper’s chief political columnist. In 1994 he was appointed Tony Blair’s 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 1997 election he became the Prime Minister’s Chief Press Secretary and Official Spokesman. He later became Director of Communications and Strategy.

Still active in Labour politics, he is one of the party’s most in-demand speakers at fundraising and motivational events. He is a sought after speaker at events around the world, specialising in strategic communications.

His main hobbies are running, cycling, bagpipes and following Burnley FC. He took up running eight years ago at the instigation of his sons and he has since run the London Marathon, the Great North Run, and the Great Ethiopian Run, and completed several full triathlons, all for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Fund.

Since 2007, he has published several books.