As a fan of The Rest is Politics podcast, I thought it was time I read some of The Alastair Campbell Diaries. I was gripped. The first volume opens at the death of Labour leader John Smith in 1994 and recounts the scramble to elect a replacement from within the…

David Cameron first used the term “muscular liberalism” in an address to a Munich security conference in February 2011. “Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism,” he said. The speech was Cameron’s first major contribution as prime minister…

As France prepares for another likely Macron vs Le Pen run-off, what can the president do to boost his chances of re-election? In politics — as with most things in life — you’re only a newcomer once. In April 2016, Emmanuel Macron burst onto France’s presidential political scene with his new party ‘En Marche!’ (On the Move). …

In recent years, the political memoir has become a steady source of income for publishers and insider gossip for readers. Whether you think politicians are simply “cashing-in” on their time in power, or passing on their wisdom, here’s how the political memoir became a weapon and why. What used to be the luxury of former prime ministers has since become a legitimate tool for revenge and reinvention. On the day of her resignation as British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher committed to writing her memoir. Three years and £3.5 million later, The Downing Street Years hit the shelves…