The Story of My Lives
The dramatic story of how the powerful political machine of New Labour, which had just delivered a landslide election victory, took on Glasgow's highest-profile politician, Pat Lally.
A great character and a brilliant politician, he has made numerous comebacks from apparent political death during the course of a colourful career - hence the Lazarus tag. He eventually became Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow - the most distinguished post the city had to offer. He was also the only European to be an honorary citizen of the Chinese city of Dalian and was awarded the Order of Merit by Jacques Chirac.
But in 1997, prompted by an accusation from then leader of Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Labour Party machine rolled into action, boldly promising to root out sleaze. A campaign of vilification through the media followed, at the hands of the political party which Pat Lally had loyally served for nearly half a century.
This autobiography is more than the story of Pat Lally's life, his career in politics and his inspired promotion of the city of Glasgow under the cultural banner - it fully describes the extraordinary and sustained campaign against him, the agonies that he and his family endured, and how the spin doctors were sent home to think again.