I chose to publish with Random House because of a long-standing friendship with chief executive Gail Rebuck and her husband Philip Gould, who have lived with the preparation of this book for almost as long as I have. Many people at Random House and Hutchinson have been involved along the way, and I would like to thank in particular Gail, Susan Sandon, Caroline Gascoigne, Rowena Skelton-Wallace, Caroline Knight, Charlotte Bush, Sally Barrass, Helen Judd, Anna Simpson, Eric Hibberd, Mark Handsley, Myra Jones, Katherine Fry and Vicki Robinson. Thanks also to lawyer Martin Soames. I am also grateful to the audiobook team, Zoe Howes, Alexa Moore and Katy Brier who made three days locked in a soundproof booth more pleasant than I anticipated it would be.
Richard Stott has been a terrific editor to work with, as I knew he would be from my days working for him in journalism. He and I are hugely indebted to Mark Bennett who helped me transcribe the diaries and has worked tirelessly on the various edits since. Thanks to literary agent Ed Victor for his support and wise counsel, and for his past and future support of Leukaemia Research. Thanks also to his PA Linda Van.
I would like to thank the people who are in the book, the characters who made my time with Tony Blair so fascinating. I owe thanks to him for the opportunity he gave me to witness the events I witnessed. And I want to thank all those who worked with me in opposition and in Downing Street. There are dozens I could mention, but if I could pick out one, it is my former PA, Alison Blackshaw.
Above all I want to thank my family: Fiona and our children, Rory, Calum and Grace, my mother Betty, my brothers Donald and Graeme, my sister Liz, and Fiona’s mother Audrey. It is a source of great sadness to us all that my father, Donald, and Fiona’s father, Bob, are no longer with us. I owe them enormous thanks too, and I like to think they would have enjoyed this book.