Meeting somebody for lunch does not usually make me nervous. But I feel slightly on edge as I wait for Alastair Campbell. Once Tony Blair’s closest aide, Campbell, a 51-year-old former journalist, makes no secret of the fact that he despises most journalists. He is a big, burly man with red hair and a short temper.
I have arrived early, for an early lunch – and La Casalinga is empty. To pass the time, I look back over All In The Mind, Campbell’s first novel, which is about to be published. Rather to my surprise, I had liked the book and read it at a single sitting. But its themes – depression, alcoholism, suicide, and sexual addiction – do not suggest that Campbell will be a relaxing lunch companion.
I put the book aside and get chatting to Lucio, the proprietor, who tells me, “I’ve known Alastair for years. He has been coming here since the 1970s.” This sounds helpful, so I ask, “What’s he like?” Lucio pauses for reflection: “He’s OK.”
The remainder of the article can be read here. Please post comments below.
For views and opinions on the European Union from Peter Spiegel, Joshua Chaffin, Alex Barker and Stanley Pignal, follow the 