A highly successful journalist, broadcaster, political aide and author, Alastair is best known for his decade at the heart of the British government as a communications strategist and Tony Blair’s chief spokesman.

He was a key architect of New Labour and its success as an election winning force.  His latest book, But What Can I Do?: Why Politics Has Gone So Wrong, and How You Can Help Fix It is inspired by a question regularly posed in response to the chart-topping podcast he presents with Rory Stewart, the Rest is Politics. His answer, typically, is forthright and impassioned: “We cannot afford to stand on the sidelines. If we think things need to change, then we need to change them, and that means getting involved”.

A former Daily Mirror Political Correspondent, he is a prolific writer, having published 18 books in the past 14 years, including two memoirs on his much-publicised battles with depression.  Alastair is an ambassador for several charities, including Mind, Rethink and Alcohol Concern. He is also an active supporter of the Heads Together campaign championed by Prince William.

Alastair will be signing copies of his latest book But what can I do?  immediately after the WPA Annual Lunch.