Thursday 28 April
Early start. I stop at the Spar in Staindrop and see the front pages of the papers, all shouting 'Blair in serious trouble' in their various styles. All except one that is - the Sun says 'Blair's helicopter hit by lightening'. Blair's credibility hit by lightening more like.
Chaotic day. Reg and Martin are locked in my room with the OB crew from The Politics Show when the news comes through that the full advice has been published. No way of warning Reg before he goes on air, though there is time for the London end to tell him, which they omit to do. Not good practice guys.
Rory Bremner has written an article and is willing to do an interview - my job is to find a place for each. They'd be easier to place if he did it himself, but then I see the snag - if someone rang saying 'Rory Bremner here' wouldn't the natural response be 'oh yeah, come off it Tony'?
Press con first, then OB, then interviews, then report of press con to go out (far too late - sorry) Meanwhile representatives of the Times, the Guardian and the Mail on Sunday are about, and the lovely Nick is lurking pleasantly in the background photographing it all.
Go home exhausted. Try to read the full advice.
- ©Reg Keys, 2005 -
