This book was conceived in conversation with Ebury in August 2019. In the course of the year to research and write the book, I received remarkable advice and help from two outstanding editors: Drummond Moir at Penguin Random House and then David Milner. I owe both a genuine debt. I am also grateful to Suzanne Connelly and Joanna Bennett at WH Allen, as well as proofreader John Garrett.
Readers should be aware that Boris Johnson is not a stranger in my home. Veronica Wadley, my wife, has known him as a journalist since he joined the Daily Telegraph in 1988. She became the newspaper’s deputy editor before later serving for seven years as the editor of the London Evening Standard. Their long relationship is one of colleagues rather than friends. She played no part in researching or writing this book.
I have met Boris at parties but we have never engaged in a long conversation. I did not ask him to co-operate in writing this book. However, he did tell others that he would not oppose it. Nevertheless, some people I approached for an interview told me that after Boris had said that he was cool to the idea, they would decline to meet me. By any account, this is an unauthorised biography.
Nevertheless, I interviewed well over one hundred people close to Boris, some several times. Most spoke off-the record, others agreed to quotations but did not want to be individually thanked. I think it therefore best not to acknowledge anyone’s personal contribution to the text. Suffice to say, I am immensely grateful to them all.
In writing the book, I relied as always on Claudia Wordsworth, a brilliant researcher, especially for the two Covid chapters. They will serve as the first draft of a complicated saga which will define Boris’s premiership and Britain’s fate.
Those I can personally thank for their contributions are Armand D’Angour, David Blackburn, David Cornwell, Roger Clarke, Miriam Gross, Emma Inglis, Trevor Kavanagh, Matthew Leeming, Quentin Letts, Tom Mangold, Angela Neuberger, Freddie Raphael, Anthony Seldon, Christopher Silvester, Tom Teodorczuk, Michael Waldman and John Ware.
David Hirst was a helpful libel lawyer and, as always, my agent Jonathan Lloyd of Curtis Brown was an outstanding friend.
Brexit and Boris have divided many families and friends, and my home has experienced the same disagreements. To protect our close relationships, we have all agreed to quietly disagree. Despite the obvious conflicts of interest, Veronica Wadley was as always extraordinarily supportive and a true friend.
To all, I say ‘Thank you!’