The Blair Years - but where was Brown?
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It is probably inevitable that Alastair Campbell, as a New Labour supporter, would be reluctant to rock the boat while there was still a chance that the party could retain power at the next election. However, a book about the Blair years that barely touches on the relationship between Blair and Brown, and especially the oft-reported animosity between them, cannot be said to offer a balanced view.
This book was sold as an excerpt from the diaries, so perhaps the next volume, which will presumably be published either after the Tories have defeated New Labour, or after Gordon Brown has done so much damage to the party that nothing Campbell said could make things worse, will be more illuminating.
That being said, this volume provides an insight into Tony Blair's premiership, and his relationship with others in his cabinet, and with other world leaders.
As a journalist, Alastair Campbell knows how to write well, and to hold the reader's interest. I look forward to his next volume, because it might explain why the office of Prime Minister was apparently handed on a plate to somebody who proved to be incapable of handling it. Were there no signs during the previous ten years that Brown has reached the limit of his abilities, and was not fitted for the highest office? I think we should be told - and I hope that Alastair Campbell will oblige!
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Written for publication, but even so...
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Firstly, the down side: it's been edited. By Campbell himself. Which means that the juiciest stuff is either on the floor or, more probably, being held back until Labour is no longer in power and we can look forward to THE CAMPBELL DIARIES: THE EXTENDED EDITION! And this is a pity - there are times when you know the good stuff has been snipped out. And that's why it's 4 stars and not five (although it's long enough already, mind, so I'd not want to read a longer book)
Because the rest of it, for political anoraks, is fascinating. A genuine insight into how Number 10 works, and what it is like to be prime minister. Yes, it's biased (of course it is), it's self serving and it has a very one eyed view of the press; but that was his job. What particularly interested me was how much wider his role went than just press - he was an all purpose adviser and clearly for a long time the second most influential man in the country.
Worth a read
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Honesty, strategy & boldness
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I hope in the months/years to come (as the various other political memoirs and diaries of the Blair years seem to be emerging with weekly regularity) people will come to look back at this as the first, the most loyal and the most truthful of them all. A brilliant, engaging, patently honest read.
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It Could Have Been Great
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Shame. This book had all the ingredients to be thrilling, gripping, revealing, fantastic and a real insight into the dark world of high politics.
Instead, we are treated to lengthy irrelevant paragraphs mixed with some truly illuminating passages. Quite probably this is due to the "unedited diary" format of the book. I say "unedited diary" because in spite of Mr Campbell's claims to the contrary, I can't help but feel that some sections have been edited with the benefit of hindsight.
Secondly, some crucial parts of the book such as the NI peace negotiations are suitably built up to effectively go unnoticed when the peace process was finally agreed upon by all parties concerned.
On the other hand, the diaries successfully portray politicians with all their shortcomings, as people that bicker and fight just like in any other workplace, interestingly highlighting their commitment to their jobs and the difficulties of balancing their personal lives.
Perhaps it would have been a lot better if the book was 150 pages shorter or so. Furthermore, given that it covers the Blair years, one can only wonder what the value addition of the future installments of the Campbell diaries may be.
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A civil servant's notes on 8 years of political minutiae
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This is a witless, charmless account of the ins and outs of Alistair Campbell's job.
It lacks a narrative imperative and whoever edited this should be ashamed of themselves. It is about 600 pages too long and it ends with a soul destroying 'to be continued'. That Alistair Campbell, and undoubtedly a team of staff, are wasting their time on a continuation of this drudgery is a crime against literature.
The only slightly interesting area is that he creates the impression that John Prescott is more competent than we have been led to believe and Tony Blair less so.
Very, very disappointing.
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