Offers genuine insight into the early years of the New Labour ascendancy, which reveals a fair amount about what went wrong. Quite a depressing book for those interested in politics - it shows that decency and hard work count for very little against the mechanisms of state and power. Very readable, and has a light touch. ( )

More by luck than judgement, I read this book immediately after The Man's autobiography, 'A Journey'. I do not think that Tony Blair lied but, the problem with up to date political biographies is that most of the people concerned are still about and one does not want to appear bitchy.

Chris Mullin viewed the Blair government from a relatively lowly position. He has no reason to protect the guilty and so, tells it as he sees it. Tony comes out pretty well, particularly when one considers that he and Chris were not from the same arm of the party. Gordon Brown, with whom one would have expected much more sympathy, is painted as a bit of a bully who carries his slights to the end. Rather less surprisingly, George Bush is given a hard time too. The view of the American President is the one area where the two books diverge noticeably. I shall have to read more about Mr Bush before deciding as to which account is the most reliable.

I thoroughly approve of getting books about government whilst the issues are still alive, rather than the old British way of releasing certain details after 30 years: anyone old enough to have been interested at the time, is probably gaga when the anodyne revelations are made. This is not to say, that a later more considered view would not be good too. I also like the diary system because, in general, the remarks were made at the time of a particular incident, rather than with the wisdom of hindsight. I am not naive enough not to realise that any wildly inaccurate prediction will have been edited out but, it is probably the nearest to having been there that we plebs are likely to come.

Suffice it to say, that whilst reading this book, I ordered a copy of Chris Mullin's second diary , 'Decline and Fall'. Thank you Mr Mullin, an excellent read. ( )

I've always held Chris Mullin in high esteem, since it was down to his efforts that the Birmingham Six were released. The diaries show his deep love for his family who were the most important people in his life. Lots of revelations about the daily workings and endless machinations of Westminster. Most revealing are his observations of the Blair Brown rift. The reader is in no doubt as to his opinion of Brown, and many of his predictions have been spot-on, now that the odious Brown is unfortunately Prime Minister.
Although he can be very sanctimonious at times, I look forward to his next volume. ( )