For the Record (book)
For the Record is a memoir by former British Prime Minister David Cameron, published by William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins UK, on 19 September 2019. It gives an insight into his life at 10 Downing Street, as well as inside explanations of the decisions taken by his government. History Cameron signed an £800,000 contract with HarperCollins UK in 2016, selling it the rights to the publication of a 'frank' account of his time in Downing Street. The autobiography was initially planned to be released in 2018, but was delayed so that Cameron would not be seen as a "backseat driver" in Theresa May's handling of Brexit. In April 2017, it was highly documented that Cameron had purchased a £25,000 garden shed to write in, in a style similar to writers Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas. The title and publication date of the book were released in May 2019, as For the Record, to be published on 19 September, just ten days before the Conservative Party Conference and a little over a month before the UK's EU exit date. Cameron said: "It was an immense privilege to lead the Conservative Party for more than a decade and the country for over six years as Prime Minister. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to explain the decisions I took and why I took them. I will be frank about what worked and what didn't." He noted that two working titles for the book were Decisions and Right at the Centre. Synopsis Cameron said that his aim in writing the book was to "correct the record" where he thought it was wrong. It covers his decision to call the 2016 referendum on the UK's European Union membership and its outcome, which led him to quit as Prime Minister and as MP for Witney two months later. It also describes the Scottish independence referendum and his reforms to economy, welfare and education. His controversial foreign policy is mentioned, as is the 2013 legalisation of same-sex marriage under his government. The book addresses the effects of the severe epilepsy and cerebral palsy suffered by Cameron's son Ivan who died at the age of 6. For the Record is dedicated to Cameron's wife Samantha. William Collins' overview said that Cameron gives "for the first time, his perspective on the EU referendum and his views on the future of Britain's place in the world in the light of Brexit". Publication Cameron was interviewed by News at Ten presenter Tom Bradby in The Cameron Interview on 16 September. ITV said the interview was watched by an average of 3 million viewers. Excerpts of For the Record were published in The Times in the week before the book's release and Cameron became the final interview for outgoing BBC Radio 4 Today presenter John Humphrys. For the Record was published in the UK on 19 September 2019, with The Bookseller writing that all author profits from the £25 hardback would go to charity. It was published in