In 1958, just before my dad died, I took my two eldest boys to parliament to be with their grandfather. In a broadcast describing his political and family life for the BBC, my dad ended with these words, 'So you will understand that I live in a blaze of autumn sunshine.' I too am enjoying that autumn sunshine now with my grandchildren, and although I may never publish another volume of diaries, if I ever did, I think the best possible title would be just that: 'A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine.'

A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine chronicles both the public and the personal events of the last decade of his life in Westminster and his 'retirement' thereafter. Covering the rise and fall of New Labour, Tony's tireless campaigning against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and his passionate commitment to encouraging public debate and demonstrations, this volume also gives us an insight into the difficulties of growing older, the devastating effect of his wife Caroline's death and his own failing health.