‘Witty, reflective and interesting’ Nick Robinson

‘Honest and exposing’ Michael Palin

‘Interesting, heartfelt’ Kay Burley

‘Insightful, funny, unexpectedly moving’ Jonathan Freedland

On the night time of 7 May 2015, Ed Balls thought there was a chance he would wake up the next morning as the new Chancellor from the Exchequer. Rather, he woke up with no employment.

Twenty-one years previous he had still left a promising career in journalism to work for Labour in opposition. Shifting through the rates, from adviser to about Speaking Out: Lessons in Life and Politics Cupboard minister and on to Shadow Chancellor, he occupied a central and influential position in and out of power during a pivotal period in English history.

Speaking Out is an archive of a life in politics, but also much more. It is about how power can be used once and for all, as well as the lessons to be learned when issues go wrong. It really is about the mechanics of Westminster, and of government. It is about facing up to your doubts and misgivings, and tackling your limitations – on levels public and private.

It is approximately the mistakes made, transformation delivered and personalities encountered during the period of two decades in the frontline of Uk politics. It is a unique windowpane into a rarely seen world. Most of all, it models out what politics is about, and just why it matters.