In less than 24 hours Tony Blair’s memoirs will be hitting the book shops and political anoraks and opinion formers will be thumbing through the pages looking for the juicy tit bits.

Thursday’s newspapers will no doubt be full of extracts, given the lack of a serialisation deal and very little advance “leakage” from the publishers.

So when the opportunity to pen an exclusive preview for my blog came my way I grabbed the chance with both hands and here is the first official review of “A Journey”.

Granita Pact

Tony Blair reveals the truth behind the deal that saw Brown stand aside for him to become leader – “…..despite many unofficial claims regarding the so called Granita deal I can now reveal that we actually met in McDonalds. I suggested a game of rock, paper, scissors but Gordon, who always had a pocket full of loose change, insisted we tossed a coin for it. I called heads and the rest as they say is history.”

John  Prescott

Blair on his much maligned Deputy – “……everyone knew what a liability John was but he was key to keeping the left wing of the party quiet. Despite his many attempts to force me to sack him – the infamous punch on the campaign trail and his affair with his secretary come to mind – I stood by John when everyone else was telling me to dump him.”

Iraq War

“I wish now I had listened to Lord Goldsmith’s initial advice…….”

Carole Caplin

“Thank goodness nobody ever discovered she was my lifestyle guru, Cherie was a dear for taking the heat on that one……”

Cash for Honours

“That was a close call, come on why shouldn’t there be something in it for them if they donate to our cash strapped Party funds?”

Autumn 2007 election

“Of course Gordon bottled it……..”

Remember, you read it here first!