If you’re looking for an honest, straightforward personal memoir of what it is like to have to live above the political ‘shop’, you’ll delight in the anecdotes against the backdrop of some of the most interesting and difficult political times.
From the moment Gordon Brown became prime minister the role became one of almost daily crisis management.
Just weeks into his premiership Sarah tells of their holiday – cut short to just four days as the PM had to get back to London to deal with an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. It’s hard to recall now that in the early days the press praised his handling of this and many other issues. Over the next three years numerous problems presented themselves, and of course we suffered the international financial crisis.
Behind the Black Door is written against this backdrop, with Sarah trying to manage family life with the inevitable press intrusion and comment, while also using her ill-defined and ill-funded role as a power for good – which she admirably achieved.
To me Sarah always seemed so calm, cool and on top of everything. She made her life of children, husband, her charity and campaigning work, while having to live in Downing Street seem so easy. But here she comes across as being more like a swan – gliding effortlessly across the water, but paddling furiously underneath. There are lists of people she meets and the clothes she wore and how she manages to cope with both. Many parents will recognise and sympathise with the inevitable conflicts and pressures.
Her deep love for her husband and children is very evident. Unfortunately for those who relish political gossip, Sarah is often too nice and too diplomatic; when being mildly critical of anyone she then adds how reasonable the other person was. The only really barbed comment is about an unnamed journalist – how I’d love to know who she was.
It’s a fun, interesting read – enjoy it.