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The Blair Years: Extracts from the Alastair Campbell Diaries
Campbell, Alastair
816 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2007
206 people are currently reading
1529 people want to read
About the author
Alastair Campbell
108 books200 followersAlastair John Campbell is a British journalist, author, strategist, broadcaster, and activist, who is known for his political roles during Tony Blair's leadership of the Labour Party. Campbell worked as Blair's spokesman and campaign director in opposition (1994–1997), then as Downing Street Press Secretary, and as the Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson (1997–2000). He then became Downing Street's director of communications and spokesman for the Labour Party (2000–2003).
Since his work for Blair, Campbell has continued to act as a freelance advisor to a number of governments and political parties, including Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania. He was an adviser to the People's Vote campaign, campaigning for a public vote on the final Brexit deal. He is the editor-at-large of The New European and chief interviewer for GQ. He acts as a consultant strategist and as an ambassador for Time to Change and other mental health charities. Throughout his time in Downing Street, Campbell kept a diary which reportedly totalled some two million words. Selected extracts, titled The Blair Years, were published in 2007. He expressed an intention to publish the diaries in fuller form, which he did from 2010 to 2018. In 2019, Campbell was expelled from the Labour Party after voting for the Liberal Democrats in that month's European elections. In 2022, Campbell launched the podcast The Rest Is Politics with Rory Stewart, which has been the top politics podcast in the UK in the Apple rankings since its launch.
Since his work for Blair, Campbell has continued to act as a freelance advisor to a number of governments and political parties, including Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania. He was an adviser to the People's Vote campaign, campaigning for a public vote on the final Brexit deal. He is the editor-at-large of The New European and chief interviewer for GQ. He acts as a consultant strategist and as an ambassador for Time to Change and other mental health charities. Throughout his time in Downing Street, Campbell kept a diary which reportedly totalled some two million words. Selected extracts, titled The Blair Years, were published in 2007. He expressed an intention to publish the diaries in fuller form, which he did from 2010 to 2018. In 2019, Campbell was expelled from the Labour Party after voting for the Liberal Democrats in that month's European elections. In 2022, Campbell launched the podcast The Rest Is Politics with Rory Stewart, which has been the top politics podcast in the UK in the Apple rankings since its launch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
May 18, 2008
Fascinating, but I have to constantly look at the list of characters at the front since he uses nicknames and initials. Am I the only one who thinks of tuberculosis when they see TB instead of Tony Blair?
January 22, 2025
EVIL book. interesting to read as someone who also keeps a diary every day. that review that calls him “tearfully queeny” is right. here is a BRIEF impression of the whiplash you get reading this for my friends who will rightfully never touch it:
10 Jan: I don’t know if peace will ever be secured in Northern Ireland
12 Jan: Gay Peter and i did NOT spread those rumours that Gordon is gay!!!!!!!!
13 Jan: discussed freeing of Irish paramilitary prisoners
27 Jan: the war of Clinton‘s penis was about to begin
19 Feb: It was an odd feeling, to know where bombs might be heading, and to know that people were going to be killed. I wondered if you ever became immune to that thought, and suspected you did.
17 Dec: My son had been watching the news and asked me why we were killing Iraqi children.
23 Dec: why didnt gay peter declare his fuckign loan christmas is RUINED
3 Mar: everyone in the world hates us for Iraq
8 Jul: TB told me he’s in love with me
10 Jan: I don’t know if peace will ever be secured in Northern Ireland
12 Jan: Gay Peter and i did NOT spread those rumours that Gordon is gay!!!!!!!!
13 Jan: discussed freeing of Irish paramilitary prisoners
27 Jan: the war of Clinton‘s penis was about to begin
19 Feb: It was an odd feeling, to know where bombs might be heading, and to know that people were going to be killed. I wondered if you ever became immune to that thought, and suspected you did.
17 Dec: My son had been watching the news and asked me why we were killing Iraqi children.
23 Dec: why didnt gay peter declare his fuckign loan christmas is RUINED
3 Mar: everyone in the world hates us for Iraq
8 Jul: TB told me he’s in love with me
August 6, 2022
‘People want to hear Alastair Campbell talk about truth about about as much as they want to hear Jefferey Epstein talk about the age of consent!’ Douglas Murray’s witty retort just about sums up Campbell’s character and despite this I still chose to read his diaries.
I don’t like Alastair Campbell at all but every reviewer must be able to separate the art from the artist. As far as the diaries are concerned Campbell’s candid memoirs about his time as Tony Blair’s Director of Communications are one of the most fascinating insights into the inner workings of the Whitehall establishment there are. Campbell tells in intimate detail his relationship with Tony Blair and the rest of New Labour from 1994 right up until his resignation in 2003. The detail which Campbell provides about the dynamic between various cabinet ministers and heads of state from Mo Mowlam to Nelson Mandela will be keeping historians interested and entertained for years to come.
However, one of the most fascinating parts of the books is Campbell’s seeming descent into anger as the pressure and stress build in his position. The outbursts and swearing become ubiquitous as the diaries continue, which seem to show the cracks were breaking in Campbell’s tough man exterior. From calling Clare Short a ‘narcissist’ (ironic) to calling Andrew Gilligan a ‘cunt’ (also ironic), Campbell’s rage is a common appearance during the diaries. The clear change in Campbells’s character over a number of years in diary form show just how political life can change a man.
Despite all this, you don’t empathise with Campbell as the diaries progress despite being the protagonist. From calling the Omagh bombing a ‘great benefit’ to the Northern Irish peace process on the day it happened, to hijacking Princess’s Diana’s death making it an occasion with the pomp of Disney production with the enforcement of the Brownshirts. Campbell comes off as a rather vindictive individual. However, Campbell’s most egregious sin is of course Iraq. Campbell cites at the beginning that certain parts have had to be removed so not to breach the Official Secrets Act or because of the Hutton inquiry which does raise questions about whether what Campbell is writing is accurate or actually a revisionist take written at a later date. This takes away from Campbell’s possible role in over-emphasising the threat of WMDs by Iraq in order to rationalise the sanguinary intervention in 2003. But leaving conspiracy to one side, Campbell’s ability to spin the Iraq scandal into one about the media’s use of official and unofficial sources distracting from the true scandal being the government waging a war under false pretences and possibly being aware of this shows he was a master of his craft…but also a bit of a dick.
When it comes to political diaries it is difficult to differentiate and judge the politics, the individual and the writing from each other. To judge this book solely on its writing and value, it’s outstanding. Campbell’s memoirs are an achievement in political posterity and will be commended for what they have done to preserve the memory and history of one of the most tumultuous times in recent British history. However, through these diaries the man will go down as a Machiavellian manipulator who was one of the architects for one of the most disastrous pieces of British foreign policy since Suez.
I don’t like Alastair Campbell at all but every reviewer must be able to separate the art from the artist. As far as the diaries are concerned Campbell’s candid memoirs about his time as Tony Blair’s Director of Communications are one of the most fascinating insights into the inner workings of the Whitehall establishment there are. Campbell tells in intimate detail his relationship with Tony Blair and the rest of New Labour from 1994 right up until his resignation in 2003. The detail which Campbell provides about the dynamic between various cabinet ministers and heads of state from Mo Mowlam to Nelson Mandela will be keeping historians interested and entertained for years to come.
However, one of the most fascinating parts of the books is Campbell’s seeming descent into anger as the pressure and stress build in his position. The outbursts and swearing become ubiquitous as the diaries continue, which seem to show the cracks were breaking in Campbell’s tough man exterior. From calling Clare Short a ‘narcissist’ (ironic) to calling Andrew Gilligan a ‘cunt’ (also ironic), Campbell’s rage is a common appearance during the diaries. The clear change in Campbells’s character over a number of years in diary form show just how political life can change a man.
Despite all this, you don’t empathise with Campbell as the diaries progress despite being the protagonist. From calling the Omagh bombing a ‘great benefit’ to the Northern Irish peace process on the day it happened, to hijacking Princess’s Diana’s death making it an occasion with the pomp of Disney production with the enforcement of the Brownshirts. Campbell comes off as a rather vindictive individual. However, Campbell’s most egregious sin is of course Iraq. Campbell cites at the beginning that certain parts have had to be removed so not to breach the Official Secrets Act or because of the Hutton inquiry which does raise questions about whether what Campbell is writing is accurate or actually a revisionist take written at a later date. This takes away from Campbell’s possible role in over-emphasising the threat of WMDs by Iraq in order to rationalise the sanguinary intervention in 2003. But leaving conspiracy to one side, Campbell’s ability to spin the Iraq scandal into one about the media’s use of official and unofficial sources distracting from the true scandal being the government waging a war under false pretences and possibly being aware of this shows he was a master of his craft…but also a bit of a dick.
When it comes to political diaries it is difficult to differentiate and judge the politics, the individual and the writing from each other. To judge this book solely on its writing and value, it’s outstanding. Campbell’s memoirs are an achievement in political posterity and will be commended for what they have done to preserve the memory and history of one of the most tumultuous times in recent British history. However, through these diaries the man will go down as a Machiavellian manipulator who was one of the architects for one of the most disastrous pieces of British foreign policy since Suez.
January 20, 2008
It was known that Campbell kept a diary, a portion of which was later published as The Blair Years.Accurate,descriptive and persuasive, it provides the inside story of the labor government. Being a Journalist and then at the center of affairs through Blair's two government,the entries are pieced together with observant comments and reveal incidents of importance
Campbell, who was also said to be pointlessly combative, picked a fight with the BBC over the story. The chairman and director-general of the BBC resigned and Lord Hutton's inquiry exonerated Campbell, however the death of Kelly and the negative public opinion put him in a very bad light.This episode is not adequately dealt with in the diaries.
Campbell, who was also said to be pointlessly combative, picked a fight with the BBC over the story. The chairman and director-general of the BBC resigned and Lord Hutton's inquiry exonerated Campbell, however the death of Kelly and the negative public opinion put him in a very bad light.This episode is not adequately dealt with in the diaries.
February 15, 2020
A candid insight into the TB premiership. The diary extracts appear to give a fresh and unfiltered perspective of the day to day trials of media management. In today’s context, interesting that there is a continuous thread of frustration against the media, although never any accusation of unfairness (although quite possibly because they had unusual support from the msm).
After reading TB’s autobiography, the absence of effort to build a legacy is quite refreshing although perhaps this also makes it a less compelling read.
The extracts about Princess Diana were a highlight.
After reading TB’s autobiography, the absence of effort to build a legacy is quite refreshing although perhaps this also makes it a less compelling read.
The extracts about Princess Diana were a highlight.
July 15, 2025
thank fuck that’s done
(3.5 really)
(3.5 really)
September 18, 2024
interesting…
i have a list of shit i wanna google cos idk anything about tony blair or him being pm or anything that happened in that time bc i was a baby 🔥
i love that he says ‘i sat down and cried.’ like 10 times in this book cos thats so human & its quite unusual to view politicians as real people with families that work a job and go home and have lives …
i have a list of shit i wanna google cos idk anything about tony blair or him being pm or anything that happened in that time bc i was a baby 🔥
i love that he says ‘i sat down and cried.’ like 10 times in this book cos thats so human & its quite unusual to view politicians as real people with families that work a job and go home and have lives …
August 12, 2024
(Audiobook)
Extremely interesting, honest and raw. Took me a while to get into but once I got used to googling the context about what he was talking about it was really interesting. Would be a good tool for those interested in a starting point to modern politics, but no additional context is given (no introduction or closing statements either) so is very much diary extracts
Extremely interesting, honest and raw. Took me a while to get into but once I got used to googling the context about what he was talking about it was really interesting. Would be a good tool for those interested in a starting point to modern politics, but no additional context is given (no introduction or closing statements either) so is very much diary extracts
June 20, 2020
I'll echo other reviews here, the use of TB, CB, GB & BC was a tad bit annoying, but overall fascinating insight into the way of working in government.
Lot of leadership lessons to be drawn from this book for personal & professional life.
Lot of leadership lessons to be drawn from this book for personal & professional life.
October 30, 2024
TLDR:
AC: Tony I’m depressed and I hate this job now,
TB: We can just rejig the office babes you’ll be fine don’t leave me xo
It was 18 months of that.
AC: Tony I’m depressed and I hate this job now,
TB: We can just rejig the office babes you’ll be fine don’t leave me xo
It was 18 months of that.
August 6, 2025
Really makes you realize how strenous politics can be on a person's life. In many ways, this book evoked a sense of voyeurism that commentators today would love to have about the present government.
As someone says to Campbell, medieval historians would have fought for such extensive diaries, and in that respect, this book does an excellent job of casting a broad narrative of the early New Labour years from opposition until the Iraq War. It is important to remember throughout that it is just one, not necessarily objective narrative. It is something that you have to remind yourself of throughout, especially when the subject matter is something like Iraq, that Campbell would have a vested interest in portraying in the best possible light. Nonetheless, I do think that the book does a good job of covering Iraq, and Campbell's role in the dossier. The saddest part for me was how in many ways, both Campbell and Blair pre-empted how big of a mess Iraq would become, and consistently tried to not appear as lapdogs for Bush. But ultimately that is what happened.
The best way to consume this book is to periodically stop and read about the events and stories Campbell is recounting; doing so gave me such a widened perspective on these years in government. In many ways, it was amusing but incredibly insightful to read Campbell's (and by extension, Blair's) thoughts about something, such as a big meeting with Clinton, or facing the press after Diana's death, and then watching videos on the same matters with the inside knowledge of their thoughts. By far the most insightful aspect of the book were negotiations over Northern Ireland - Campbell really brings to life the careful tightrope that had to be walked there with various players like Adams and Trimble.
The most annoying part of the book, as others have mentioned, are the initialisms. It's easier enough to get over seeing TB (Tony Blair) as Tuberculosis, JP (John Prescott) as Jordan Peterson or PM (Peter Mandelson) as Prime Minister, but for some of the smaller characters, by the end I lost the will to bother checking who they were. Thus it made it very difficult sometimes when XX spoke to XX about XX's dealings with XX and I had no clue what was going on. But I guess it makes sense for a diary.
As someone says to Campbell, medieval historians would have fought for such extensive diaries, and in that respect, this book does an excellent job of casting a broad narrative of the early New Labour years from opposition until the Iraq War. It is important to remember throughout that it is just one, not necessarily objective narrative. It is something that you have to remind yourself of throughout, especially when the subject matter is something like Iraq, that Campbell would have a vested interest in portraying in the best possible light. Nonetheless, I do think that the book does a good job of covering Iraq, and Campbell's role in the dossier. The saddest part for me was how in many ways, both Campbell and Blair pre-empted how big of a mess Iraq would become, and consistently tried to not appear as lapdogs for Bush. But ultimately that is what happened.
The best way to consume this book is to periodically stop and read about the events and stories Campbell is recounting; doing so gave me such a widened perspective on these years in government. In many ways, it was amusing but incredibly insightful to read Campbell's (and by extension, Blair's) thoughts about something, such as a big meeting with Clinton, or facing the press after Diana's death, and then watching videos on the same matters with the inside knowledge of their thoughts. By far the most insightful aspect of the book were negotiations over Northern Ireland - Campbell really brings to life the careful tightrope that had to be walked there with various players like Adams and Trimble.
The most annoying part of the book, as others have mentioned, are the initialisms. It's easier enough to get over seeing TB (Tony Blair) as Tuberculosis, JP (John Prescott) as Jordan Peterson or PM (Peter Mandelson) as Prime Minister, but for some of the smaller characters, by the end I lost the will to bother checking who they were. Thus it made it very difficult sometimes when XX spoke to XX about XX's dealings with XX and I had no clue what was going on. But I guess it makes sense for a diary.
March 14, 2024
Fascinating. Loved each page of this - both the genre (diaries, rather than retrospective comments in compilation) and the content (hearing the inner workings of Blair and Campbell, along with Brown, Mandelson, Diana and others, felt like access far beyond the privilege of a normal citizen) were excellent, and I am sad to have reached the end.
February 17, 2022
Hey, read it all!! Need a prize - it was hard work at times, too verbose and too detailed (for my taste.) took nearly a year to read - there are 3 books! - 794 pages - not sure 'I liked it' but educational and put a spin on what happened which you buy or don't.
January 28, 2022
Incredible to read a first-hand account of the first Blair Premiership. Campbell is clearly a genius and must have been missed after his 2003 resignation. Obviously this diary could be dry at times, but that's the nature of largely-unedited memoirs. A great listen.
January 5, 2025
is it too early for this to be my favourite book of 2025
March 12, 2025
Was close to going full centrist dad and giving this 5 stars, probs the most fascinating and frank account of modern politics I’ve ever read
April 18, 2022
4.4
Brilliant insight, highly recommend!
Brilliant insight, highly recommend!
October 1, 2025
3.5 stars. a truly fascinating look into 6 or so years of government - whatever you think of campbell his diaries offer a real glimpse at what it’s like to run a country. all the abbreviations were supremely annoying though.
August 1, 2025
The author sounded about as enthusiastic narrating this as I felt reading it.
September 5, 2011
I find the diary format so addictive as it allows events to unfold and you just want to know what happens the next day, and the one after that, and the next one again... The book offers a detailed account of what went on behind the scenes and the mechanics of politics, government and diplomacy, but whether it is a true reflection of it is impossible to tell as AC is a truly political animal. The book is very funny in places, with some useful self-mockery thrown in too, and makes you wonder why on earth anybody would want to be a politician or closely involved with national politics as it is so absorbing and exhausting.
January 4, 2015
I've always quite like Campbell. He's obviously clever, focused and very hard working - all traits to admire. But he's also a bit full of himself - less so. Overall, a really interesting read and full of background information and opinions on political events I can remember from the fairly recent past.
January 31, 2020
Great insight into the machinations of the elite politicians and how the personalities of these select few make decisions or react to events which affect millions. Lots of name dropping but that’s the nature of the environment and detailed accounts which made me think of starting my own diary ... might fill the odd page!
August 4, 2011
I got bored! I gave up.
December 4, 2011
Self serving disingenuous pap
December 26, 2011
One of the few books I have ever left in a hotel. Ended up with a lower regard for many of the major players especially Blair.
September 4, 2022
Fascinating insight into New Labour, AC and TB
June 27, 2025
The Blair Years is marketed as a political diary — a candid behind-the-scenes account of New Labour, government communications, and leadership under pressure. But don’t be fooled. This is not just a political memoir. This is the gayest book I have ever read in my life.
It’s 700 pages of Alastair Campbell being emotionally, professionally, and spiritually entangled with Tony Blair. You open the book expecting strategy, policy, press management — and yes, it’s all there — but what you get is something far more disturbing: obsessive intimacy, aching admiration, and a depth of emotional need that reads less like a diary of political life and more like the private writings of a man slowly realising he is in love with the Prime Minister.
Campbell writes about Blair with the language of devotion. He obsesses over his mood, his face, his speeches, his silences. The sheer frequency with which Tony’s feelings, tone, or “aura” are discussed could rival the diary of a Victorian schoolgirl pining for her piano tutor. Blair gets described with the kind of soft-focus reverence usually reserved for romantic fiction. If you removed the context, you could convincingly pass large chunks of this book off as a slow-burn gay romance set in the corridors of Whitehall.
And I don’t even like Blair. I loathe Blair. His smugness, his war crimes, his faux-sincerity. But through Campbell’s eyes, he becomes this tragic, golden-boy figure: charismatic, flawed, and perpetually in need of emotional rescue. And who is always there to rescue him? Alastair. With his schedules, his rants, his ever-present closeness. It’s not even subtext. It’s text, in italics, underlined, and frequently revised at 4am after a breakdown about media strategy.
I think about this book way too much, in my head, my notes app, group chats, and during late-night spirals where I find myself rereading Campbell’s accounts of emotional “clearing-the-air” talks with Blair and wondering how they didn’t end up kissing on the Downing Street steps. I don’t know what this says about me. Maybe it’s projection. Maybe it’s queering the archive. Maybe it’s just accurate.
It’s 700 pages of Alastair Campbell being emotionally, professionally, and spiritually entangled with Tony Blair. You open the book expecting strategy, policy, press management — and yes, it’s all there — but what you get is something far more disturbing: obsessive intimacy, aching admiration, and a depth of emotional need that reads less like a diary of political life and more like the private writings of a man slowly realising he is in love with the Prime Minister.
Campbell writes about Blair with the language of devotion. He obsesses over his mood, his face, his speeches, his silences. The sheer frequency with which Tony’s feelings, tone, or “aura” are discussed could rival the diary of a Victorian schoolgirl pining for her piano tutor. Blair gets described with the kind of soft-focus reverence usually reserved for romantic fiction. If you removed the context, you could convincingly pass large chunks of this book off as a slow-burn gay romance set in the corridors of Whitehall.
And I don’t even like Blair. I loathe Blair. His smugness, his war crimes, his faux-sincerity. But through Campbell’s eyes, he becomes this tragic, golden-boy figure: charismatic, flawed, and perpetually in need of emotional rescue. And who is always there to rescue him? Alastair. With his schedules, his rants, his ever-present closeness. It’s not even subtext. It’s text, in italics, underlined, and frequently revised at 4am after a breakdown about media strategy.
I think about this book way too much, in my head, my notes app, group chats, and during late-night spirals where I find myself rereading Campbell’s accounts of emotional “clearing-the-air” talks with Blair and wondering how they didn’t end up kissing on the Downing Street steps. I don’t know what this says about me. Maybe it’s projection. Maybe it’s queering the archive. Maybe it’s just accurate.
January 26, 2025
I am a huge fan of Alistair Campbell and the Rest is Politics podcast. His insights are meaningful, good humoured and globally-elite. This memoir is a must read. I am embarrassed to have taken so long to read it. At 756 pages (small font) it was not the easiest tome but it was so well worth it. I think it would have been better to have read it closer to the period in question as some of the anecdotes were lost on me. But here is a very unique and real-time account of the inner workings of one of the most consequential politicians of all time (Blair) from his closest confidante. All while navigating immense issues - Iraq, Princess Diana’s death, foot and mouth disease, Northern Ireland peace process, Afghanistan, and Bill Clinton’s troubles. This book is remarkable, compelling and hilarious in places. Campbell does NOT miss.
July 20, 2023
A comprehensive and interesting insight into the behind the scenes of modern day politics from the perspective of the man who was perhaps the closest to Tony Blair and an account of what goes into the heavy political decisions as well as the toll it can take on one's personal life.
I find diaries are easy to dip in and out of due to the generally dry and to-the-point style of writing, but this can also make them quite difficult to read over longer periods. I got bit fed up with all the acronyms and accepted that I wasn't going to fully understand everything that was going on. While it remained easy to read, by the time I was two-thirds of the way through I was getting pretty desperate to finish so I could move onto something with some plot and pace.
I find diaries are easy to dip in and out of due to the generally dry and to-the-point style of writing, but this can also make them quite difficult to read over longer periods. I got bit fed up with all the acronyms and accepted that I wasn't going to fully understand everything that was going on. While it remained easy to read, by the time I was two-thirds of the way through I was getting pretty desperate to finish so I could move onto something with some plot and pace.
Read
March 3, 2025In early February I started listening to Alastair Campbell’s politics podcast with Rory Stewart and became a quick fan so, naturally, I wanted to read some of their books and the first one I settled on was this! I briefly learned about Blair’s premiership when I did my history a-level, but covid cut that particular module short so I always felt like he was a missing puzzle piece in my knowledge of British politics.
I did listen to an abridged audiobook (I don’t think there was an unabridged version, sadly) so whilst I didn’t get the full scope of things, I think these diary extracts did well to encapsulate how those closest to Blair felt at the time certain events occurred and what the logic was behind certain choices, good and bad. I think I’d prefer to read a “proper” non-fiction book on the Blair years but ultimately this was a fun and unique way to get an insight into his government! The audiobook was also read by Alastair himself, and I always enjoy an audiobook narrated by the author.
I did listen to an abridged audiobook (I don’t think there was an unabridged version, sadly) so whilst I didn’t get the full scope of things, I think these diary extracts did well to encapsulate how those closest to Blair felt at the time certain events occurred and what the logic was behind certain choices, good and bad. I think I’d prefer to read a “proper” non-fiction book on the Blair years but ultimately this was a fun and unique way to get an insight into his government! The audiobook was also read by Alastair himself, and I always enjoy an audiobook narrated by the author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews