New must read book for all Labour obsessives

As the New Labour era draws to a close there will be no shortage of political memoirs from those who have occupied the Olympian heights.

A View From the Foothills, the diaries of Chris Mullin, are refreshingly different.

They describe an unusual political career. To the apoplexy of the whips, Mullin was for a time the only person appointed to government, despite having voted against the Iraq war. He occupied several vantage points: as a member of the backbench parliamentary committee which met weekly with the Prime Minister; as chairman of the Home Affairs committee and as a minister in three departments – Environment, International Development and the Foreign Office. With an eye for detail and a keen sense of the ridiculous, his diaries are a unique snapshot of political life in the early 21st century.

Besides Tony Blair and his court many colourful characters flit across these pages: the great Mandela, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, a clutch of African presidents, senior members of the security services. There is also a brief but hilarious encounter with George Bush. Funny, honest, self-deprecating and irreverent the Mullin diaries are a compelling read. They may also be the most illuminating account yet of the Blair years.

Chris Mullin has been Member of Parliament for Sunderland South since 1987. He is best known as the author of the novel A Very British Coup which was made into an award winning television series.

You can read the Mail on Sunday serialisation of his memoirs here.

‘It is said that failed politicians make the best diarists. In which case I am in with a chance.’ – Chris Mullin