The best political diaries, by and large, are written by those who were close enough to the action to have insights denied to the outside observer, but not so near the centre that every entry is written with an eye on posterity. It is partly because of this that the diary kept by Chris Mullin between 1999 and 2005 is by far the most revealing and entertaining to have emerged from the now-dying era of New Labour. But it is also because Mr Mullin is such an agreeably modest and philosophical companion, albeit one still capable of throwing many a well-aimed barb.
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