William Hague’s speech this week made much of the book sales at the Labour Party conference last week. That Tristram Hunt’s biography of Friedrich Engels outsold both Blair and Mandelson was taken as evidence of a resurgence of communism.
I spent a fair chunk of the week hanging around the bookshop at conference in Manchester, but I didn’t see any communists. I did see a pleasing number of people buying Labour’s Revival, and even more looking at it, and saying they would get a copy mail-ordered. Billy Hayes, general secretary of the CWU bought a copy. Even Ken Livingstone leafed through a copy.
It is always a thrill for an author to see their work in print (they’re lying if they deny it), and to see people buying and reading it. When Michael Crick from Newsnight filmed me signing copies (as though there was a queue of people wanting a signed copy), it was a highlight of the week.
I hope people who wish Labour well read the book. It’s designed to provide succour to the new leader (I’m glad I left that question open in the book) and a guide to what Labour should do next. There’s a pretty hard-hitting analysis of the failings of the last years of Labour in government. Looking back, it seems mild compared to the revelations coming out in my namesake Steve Richards’s book and radio series. Most of all there’s a plan for Labour’s next moves forward.
Rachel Sylvester of The Times says the new Labour leader should read Labour’s Revival. I know there’s a copy in Ed’s office, but I don’t know if he’s picked it up – yet!
Get your copy of Labour's Revival by Paul Richards for £12.99 here.