‘Sensational … One of the most explosive political diaries ever to be published … As candid, caustic and colourful as the sensational Alan Clark Diaries of the 1990s’ DAILY MAIL

The Sunday Times bestseller

As Minister of State at the Foreign Office, Alan Duncan was once described as Boris Johnson’s ‘pooper-scooper’. For two years, he deputised for the then Foreign Secretary, now Prime Minister. Few are more attuned to Boris’s strengths and weaknesses as a minister and his suitability for high office than the man who helped clear up his mistakes.

Riotously candid, these diaries cover the most turbulent period in recent British political history – from the eve of the referendum in 2016 to the UK’s eventual exit from the EU. As two prime ministers fall, two general elections unfold and a no-confidence vote is survived, Duncan records a treasure-trove of insider gossip, giving biting and often hilarious accounts of petty rivalries, poor decision-making, big egos, and big crises.

Nothing escapes Alan’s acerbic gaze. Across these unfiltered daily entries, he builds a revealing and often profound picture of UK politics and personalities. A rich seam of high politics and low intrigue, this is an account from deep inside the engine room of power.

This Sunday Times bestselling book is a top autobiography that provides a unique perspective on public affairs and administration. Duncan's journals offer a candid look at the campaigns and process that have shaped the UK's political landscape.

For fans of Sebastian Payne (The Fall of Boris Johnson), Rory Stewart (Politics On the Edge), Chris Bryant (Stafford Cripps), Michael A. Ashcroft (All to Play For), and Bob Woodward (The Final Days).

In the Thick of It: The Private Diaries of a Minister

In the Thick of It: The Private Diaries of a Minister