The number one bestselling memoir of one of New Labour’s three founding architects, now with a revealing new chapter updating this paperback edition. Peter Mandelson is one of the most influential politicians of modern times. The Third Man is his story – of a life played out in the backroom and then on the frontline of the Labour Party during its unprecedented three terms in government. Much of the book is devoted to the defining political relationships of Peter Mandelson’s life – with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Charting what he terms the ‘soap-opera’ years of the Labour government, his book continues to ruffle feathers with an updated preface bringing the story up to the tempestuous present. ‘Gossip, intrigue and scandal…a truthful and witty account’ New Statesman ‘Informative, clear and containing refreshing doses of self-knowledge, occasional regret and thoughtfulness’ Andrew Marr ‘Shines a brutal light on the conflicts at the heart of Labour’s leadership’ Guardian ‘Mandelson has added heavily to the sum total of political knowledge' The Times ‘A revealing and important book by a more winning individual than I had expected to encounter’ Matthew Parris ‘A very good book…Fluently written and substantial, this is a serious book by a serious man’ Sunday Telegraph ‘A compelling account of the New Labour years. Revealing and subtle…The book should be read by anyone remotely interested in politics’ Independent At the age of thirty-two Peter Mandelson became Labour’s Director of Campaigns and Communications, and was elected as MP for Hartlepool in 1992, serving in government as Minister without Portfolio, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Lord President of the Council. He remains in Parliament as a member of the House of Lords.