Former Labour Downing Street spokesman-turned political commentator Alastair Campbell is proving to be a popular draw for the West’s leading business figures – more than 500 of them have signed up to attend this year’s CBI’s regional annual dinner where he will be guest speaker.
Mr Campbell, pictured, best known for his role as former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s press secretary, will address the 510 attendees at the event in Bristol next Thursday – the biggest turnout for many years, according to the CBI. 
Never far from the headlines – or the radio and TV studios – Mr Campbell has had a higher profile recently after wading into the row between David Miliband and the Daily Mail over a profile article on the Labour leader's late father.
Also speaking at the event will be Neil Bentley, the CBI’s youngest-ever deputy director-general and chief operating officer. He is recognised for spearheading the organisation’s climate change campaign and more recently as a champion of boardroom diversity.
The black-tie dinner is traditionally one of the key events of the region’s business calendar attracting many of its leading businessmen and women as well as political figures. Previous speakers over the years have included senior politicians, civil servants, diplomats, economists and industrialists.
The dinner, sponsored by Barclays and supported by communications agency Bray Leino, Bristol law firm Burges Salmon, Bristol-based insurance group DAS and Plymouth University, will take place at the Passenger Shed at Temple Meads.
Mr Cambell's Twitter account describes him as a ‘writer, communicator, strategist, used to be Tony Blair’s spokesman, now my own’.
Bristol Business News will feature a full interview with Mr Campbell next week.
