The Blair Years: Extracts from the Alastair Campbell Diaries

In a characteristically smug introduction to this new edition, Tony Blair's former press secretary, right-hand man and best chum Alastair Campbell gloats over the successful publication of The Blair Years last summer. Not only was it an instant bestseller (although he fails to mention that it was named by Travelodge as the book most often discarded in hotel rooms), but it's now also being studied as a manual on how to cope with the pressures of government - even by the Tories. But best of all, thanks to some clever omissions, Campbell managed to manipulate the press (just like the good old days) into focusing on Blair's triumphs rather than those messy arguments with Gordon Brown that could be so damaging to the Labour cause.

Luckily for us, Campbell hasn't been too zealous in his editing; this is not a sanitised account of the Blair regime. From his unique insider's perspective, he has produced a hugely detailed account of the everyday concerns and squabbles of the Labour leaders from 1995, when Campbell took the job, through to 2003 when he resigned amid controversy and “sexed-up” dossiers. We witness Campbell and Peter Mandelson coming to blows over whether or not Blair should wear a tie for his conference speech (Campbell wins - Blair wears the tie) and Campbell generally intimidating everybody around him. But strangely enough, it's this surly arrogance that makes him such a compelling diarist. Despite the omissions - the account of the build-up to the Iraq war is frustratingly thin - The Blair Years is a fascinating account that takes you straight to the heart of the new Labour beast

The Blair Years
Arrow £9.99

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