A few years ago I co-edited a book of political counterfactuals with Duncan Brack called PRIME MINISTER PORTILLO & OTHER THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED. Searching through an old computer this evening, I came across the entry I wrote which gave the book its name. It's a rather gossipy account of how Michael Portillo became Prime Minister and has a twist right at the end. If you'd like...

Asked if the Government still intended on taking 42 days to a vote, the PMS said yes. Asked what book the Prime Minister was plugging in Cheltenham, the PMS replied that this was a long-standing engagement that had been in the diary for some time and that the Prime Minister had not wanted to let down the organisers. The Prime Minister would take part in a Q&A session chaired by Ben Mac...

This is late news, but still worth recounting because it is relevant to his upcoming book on "Britishness" as well as funny:At the launch of the Courage book Gordon Brown spoke to one of the survivors of the 7/7 attacks who had lost her legs in the bombings. 'You epitomise perfectly the British heroic spirit' said the Prime Mentalist. 'But Prime Minister I'm an Aussie' said the woman. Exits a befu...

Former prime minister given angry reception at book signing.

Brown writing book on Britishness Mr Brown discussed Britishness with author Ian Rankin He may have his hands full with economic crises and leadership worries, but it seems Gordon Brown can still find time for a spot of writing. The prime minister is preparing to write his third book in four years, he revealed at the weekend. The book, which will include a contribution from Harry Potter author JK ...

It is profoundly depressing that Tony Blair has had to pull out of his London book signing. Whatever you think of Blair, he is a man who led his party to three general elections victories and is the second longest serving Prime Minister of the post-war era. There is something very wrong if he feels he has to cancel an appearance at a book shop because of the threat of disruption from protesters wh...

In conversation with the editor of GQ, the would-be prime minister reveals . . . that he "doesn't really like Pot Noodles" If there is one political question that needs to be addressed today it is this: what sort of prime minister would David Cameron be? The voters may have decided they do not like Gordon Brown, but before they let go of Nurse they are entitled to ask whether the smooth, youn...

Asked if it was the case that what the Prime Minister was doing this week was no different from what he was doing before he went to Beijing and the only holiday the Prime Minister had had was in Suffolk, the PMS said that the Prime Minister was working all of the time, so he would not necessarily accept that characterisation of what was holiday and what wasn t. The Prime Minister was in his consti...

I am usually sceptical about instant history book as they come out before there has been time for reflection or analysis and yet whilst events are still fresh in your mind. Too often therefore the instant history account simply tells you what you can still remember, and no more. However, Nicholas Jones’s book does a good

CLAIMS about low morale among Gordon Brown's staff were made in a book by a former Downing Street adviser.