The very talented Oona King

Not content with wooing audiences on 'Dancing on Ice', legislating in the UK’s Second Chamber and heading up Channel 4’s Diversity Unit, Oona King has found time to compile her diaries into a very entertaining book.

In the company of King and an invited audience three actors gave a reading of King’s new book at the House of Lords dining chamber.

Although the title of the book is blandly tilted the ‘Oona King Diaries’, it could have easily been penned, ‘King laid bare’, because within an hours reading, it becomes clear that the former MP lays her soul on the line guiding you through the many trails and tribulation of being the only 2nd Black female to be in Parliament; the struggle to save her marriage, and the infamous ‘battle for Bethnal Green’ with George Galloway.

Few back bench politicians in recent years have endured the type of scrutiny King faced during her eight years as Bethnal Green MP. She received so many death threats from both the Far Right and Muslim extremist groups that she became almost blasé about them, once telling a Borough Police Commander that, ‘I’m not fazed about the threats; they are just seeking to disrupt or frighten me. It’s when they don’t come, I’ll really worry.’

Discussing her controversial decision to back the war on Iraq, against the vast majority of her Muslim constituency it  was not, she reminds her readers, because of Downing St pressure, but rather her Parliamentary work abroad and the stories her Iraqi constituents would relate to her about the brutality of the Saddam Hussein regime. Ultimately, that decision was to be her parliamentary downfall by the smallest of margin's-800 votes.

One of the most moving elements of the reading was when she recalls being summoned to see the Prime Minister Tony Blair. Knees shaking she enters the room. The PM barely looked up, his head immersed in his  Red box, signing documents. Sitting around the room was Alistair Campbell, Anji Hunter and Jonathan Powell. Between these four, they,  King recollected, basically run the country. ‘Oona,’ Alister Campbell began. 'We want you to write an article denouncing Ken Livingstone. London’s multicultural, we need that vote, and he is no good for the Party or London. We need you to do this for us. Okay!’

Struggling to find the words, King eventually splutters; ‘I’m not his greatest fan, but I’m not quite sure I think this is the right way to do this. Can I think about it and come back to you?’ ‘You’ve got five minutes Oona. Yes or no’, Hunter informed her. In those five minutes, her political ambitions would be decided. Yes would mean certain ministerial promotion, no would signify the end to any Ministerial ambitions. ‘Come on, Oona, we need you now’, came the last bullying tone. ‘My answer, if you want it now, then is, is …no’,  she stated, almost relieved. No one spoke for what seemed like forever. Nervously, she laughed, ‘I guess that means my Ministerial ambitions are over?’ ‘Not quite,’ responded Campbell, ‘but you might have to wait another five years’.

Looking back King has no regrets. She adopted three children, saved her marriage and still has a role fighting for social and racial justice in the House of Lords.

Speaking after the reading she said. ‘You now what, I’m lucky, extremely lucky to have had the opportunities I’ve had, and those that I’m still having’.

She’s right of course. That said, I would recommend any would-be BME politician to read her book. If you still want to be an MP afterwards, trust me, you’ve got what it takes.

Simon Woolley