Here Today Gone Tomorrow: Memoirs of an Errant Politician [Hardcover]

"Who would have thought that John Nott had some much of interest to tell us?"

"A superb memoir"

"It is the awkward passion not the mellow recollection which renders this an outstanding autobiography. There is much here that historians will prize."

"John Nott's memoirs catch fire... Nott writes attractively throughout."

Nott has composed one of the best memoirs of the era; it is likely to become an essential source for future historians of that period.

What makes the book remarkably entertaining and readable is Nott's spiky intelligence and candour.

It is the style and its candour that makes this book an excellent read.

The autobiography of former Defence Secretary Sir John Nott. Nott entered Parliament in 1966 after a career in the City. He became one of Margaret Thatcher's chief lieutenants and was appointed Trade Secretary in her first Cabinet. In 1981 he moved across to Defence where he implemented a wide ranging Defence Review. He was Defence Secretary in the Falklands War Cabinet but left Parliament at the 1983 election. He went on to become chairman of Lazard Brothers and Hillsdown Holdings. He now farms in Cornwall.

My book is not a conventional political autobiography, it is more the story of a varied life starting when I walked out of an interview with Robin Day (hence the title of the book), going through a career in the City, army service in the jungles of Malaya with the Gurkhas and then most important of all my experience as a member of Margaret Thatcher's war cabinet throughout the Falklands war. I think this is the first insider's account of the decisions and tensions arising in what must have been Great Britain's last colonial war.

John Nott was born in 1932. He started his career as a regular office in the 2nd Gurkha rifles, resigned his commission in 1956 and went up to Cambridge where he was President of the Union. He then joined Warburgs at the beginning of the City revolution leaving it to enter politics in 1966 when he became Conservative MP for St Ives. He became Sectretary of State for Trade and then Secretary of State for Defence in Margaret Thatcher's first Cabinet. He served in the Falklands War Cabinet. He left politics in 1983, reentered the City and became Chairman and Chief Executive of Lazard Brothers during 'Big Bang' - the completion of the City revolution. He now farms in Cornwall.