The launch party for Call Me Dave proved to be an eventful affair as it was revealed that Lord Ashcroft was unable to attend after falling critically ill around the time of the book’s launch. As guests munched on cocktail sausages and sipped champagne, his co-author Isabel Oakeshott took to the stage to give a speech.
To kick things off, Oakeshott recalled David Cameron’s advise to her when she first planned to help Ashcroft write the biography. Oakeshott, who was the Sunday Times political editor at the time, says he warned her against joining the project:
‘We had a conversation about my plans to help Michael with his book, I recently looked at the transcript of our conversation and was struck by his dark warnings about me getting involved. ‘I’m just worried you’ll get caught up in some great battle against me and Michael Ashcroft, I really fear for you’
With Oakeshott insisting that she ‘absolutely’ does not regret joining the project, she went on to take a dig at Cameron over his attitude to all biographies, rather than just her own.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in