Alastair Campbell
Headline:
'I can't change what I am'
Synopsis:
New Labour's attack dog hasn't lost his teeth, but his trajectory after political life reveals unsuspected compassion and humility.
Alastair Campbell has written a novel about humility. I'll say that again. Alastair Campbell, New Labour attack dog, bully boy and Machiavellian master of that new lynchpin of the new political culture, "spin", has channelled his considerable storytelling skills into a novel which pivots on an essay, and then a eulogy, on humility.
"Humility," according to the essay, "is knowing we are all as important to each other. And even the ones we think are really important, the ones we see on the TV or put on the pedestals, in the grand sweep of history, and amid the great forces of nature, they are grains of sand." Prime ministers, press secretaries, bestselling writers – all grains of sand. "We can learn humility," the essay continues, "if we learn from mistakes." ....
- Publish date:
- 31 October 2008
- Source:
- The Independent
- Media:
