Alex Smith
Alex Smith is the founder and chief executive of North London Cares, a social enterprise that recruits young professionals using digital technology and matches them to elderly and isolated neighbours in need of a little extra support.
He is also media and public affairs adviser to Future First, a social business that creates alumni networks in state schools, and a freelance specialist in digital campaigns, helping create new businesses Champollion Digital, the Academy for Parliamentary and Policy Studies and Network for Progress.
Previously, Alex was director of online communications and campaigns to Ed Miliband during his award-winning Labour leadership bid, and was editor and first director of one of the biggest political websites in the UK, LabourList, from 2009-2011.
Alex holds a diploma in International Business Practice from the University of Cambridge / Mountbatten Institute and has received an UnLtd Award for social enterprise. He is also a governor and mentor at Holloway School.
Alex has written about digital inclusion for publications including The Guardian, Prospect Magazine, The New Statesman, The Huffington Post, Total Politics and House Magazine.
He has spoken at the Houses of Parliament, Oxford University, Manchester and Liverpool Town Halls and for organisations including UnLtd, The Frontline Club, NetrootsUK and the BBC College of Journalism..
Alex has twice been guest lecturer on digital campaigns at the University of Westminster, in 2010 and 2011.
Below is a selection of Alex’s published and broadcast political work unconnected to Labour’s Business—including articles, interviews and video. For articles relating to Labour’s Business, click here.
ARTICLES
“Can technology help us support the ageing population?” — The Guardian: May, 2012.
“Why it matters: North London Cares” — The Kentish Towner: April, 2012.
“There’s more to a “progressive” internship than pay” — LabourList: March, 2012.
“The Economy: Is Labour finally getting its act together?” — LabourList: November, 2011.
“Labour’s quiet digital revolution” — The Huffington Post: November, 2011.
“Refounding Labour: The second coming of the Labour Party?” — LabourList: September, 2011.
“Labour Conference: Ed Miliband comes of age” — The Huffington Post: September, 2011.
“E-campaigners: The new breed of political players” — Total Politics: September, 2011.
“Ahead of Labour Conference: Rallying the activists” — The Huffington Post: September, 2011.
“A mixed year for Miliband”— LabourList: September, 2011.
“A shared experience: 9/11 ten years on” — Iain Dale: September, 2011.
“The Riots: Politicians have offered so little at a time of such need” — The Huffington Post: August, 2011.
“The power of the web is disproportionately in the hands of elites” — Prospect Magazine: August, 2011.
“News International: Was this the week Miliband came of age?” — Iain Dale: July, 2011.
“The state of the left-wing blogosphere” — Total Politics Top 100 Blogs: September, 2010.
“Introducing National Identity Day on LabourList” — LabourList: July, 2010.
“Making the (Labour) case for universal free school meals” — LabourList: June, 2010.
“Five ways Labour still needs to change at the roots” — LabourList: June, 2010.
“Smash and grab: Labour needs a position vision to appeal to Lib Dems” — LabourList: June, 2010.
“Work in progress: Labour’s word of mouth strategy” — Progress: June, 2010.
“If Brown goes, Labour should take the time for a deep clean discussion” — May, 2010.
“Storytellers: Auschwitz, the Holocaust Educational Trust and humanity” — LabourList: April, 2010.
“Election 2010: Labour is winning online” — Progress: March, 2010.
“Why the Labour Party still needs fundamental change at its roots” — LabourList: February, 2010.
“Lessons from America: The Audacity to Win Review” — Progress: February, 2010.
“Why fixed term parliaments are crucial for our democracy” — LabourList: February, 2010.
“Diary: Holding The Baby” — Total Politics: October, 2009.
“Replicating the Obama campaign online” — Compass: November, 2009.
“Hold the eulogies on Obama, his eyes are fixed on the horizon” — Progress: November, 2009.
“No time to give up on Labour” — Progress: September, 2009.
“Why I’m on the left” – Open Left (Demos): July, 2009.
“Risk on renewal at the grassroots” — Progress: March, 2009.
“Labour must reconnect with our tradition as the party of activism” — Progress: January, 2009.
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
“Ahead of the Labour Party Conference” — Winkball: September, 2011.
“Netroots UK: What is digital campaigning?” — The Guardian: January, 2011.
“On the future of party political funding” — Winkball: June, 2010.
“Has the web killed the election poster?” — Winkball: June, 2010.
Debate with Iain Dale on “the Digital Election” — BBC College of Journalism: March, 2010.
Discussion with Harry Cole on the “Snow Plot” — Sky News: January, 2010.
INTERVIEWS with ALEX
How socially active are older people in London? — BBC Radio London: May, 2012.
Life after LabourList — House of Twits: July, 2011.
It’s the economy, stupid — House of Comments: March, 2010.
Twenty questions to a blogger — Mars Hill: May, 2009.
INTERVIEWS with OTHERS
Iain Dale and Mark Ferguson — Champollion Digital: November, 2011.
Andy Burnham — LabourList: July, 2010.
David Miliband — LabourList: July, 2010.
Oona King — LabourList: May, 2010.
Douglas Alexander — LabourList: July, 2010.
James Purnell — LabourList: February, 2010.
Ed Balls — LabourList: January, 2010.
Ken Livingstone — LabourList: July, 2009.
Martin Bell — LabourList: July, 2009.
Fiona Millar — LabourList: June, 2009.
Iain Dale — LabourList: May, 2009.