Alan Johnson was born in May 1950. He is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. Johnson was the Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle until his retirement from politics in 2017.His first book, This Boy, won the RSL Ondaatje Prize and the Orwell Prize in 2013. His second, Please Mister Postman, won the National Book Award for Autobiography of the Year in 2014. His third, The Long and Winding Road, was published in 2016 and won the Parliamentary Book Award for Best Memoir.

"The best political testament I have ever read" -- Peter Wilby New Statesman "This boy can write...there's nothing second-rate about his writing. He is a natural" The Spectator "A wonderful elegy for a life that has only just passed into history... Beautifully written, affecting and sad" -- John Rentoul Independent on Sunday "A fascinating piece of social history" -- Daisy Goodwin Sunday Times "Johnson's writing style is easy, relaxed, self-deprecating. His recall and eye for detail are impressive" -- Chris Mullin Observer

Alan Johnson was born in May 1950. He is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. Johnson was the Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle until his retirement from politics in 2017.His first book, This Boy, won the RSL Ondaatje Prize and the Orwell Prize in 2013. His second, Please Mister Postman, won the National Book Award for Autobiography of the Year in 2014. His third, The Long and Winding Road, was published in 2016 and won the Parliamentary Book Award for Best Memoir.

"The best political testament I have ever read" -- Peter Wilby New Statesman "This boy can write...there's nothing second-rate about his writing. He is a natural" The Spectator "A wonderful elegy for a life that has only just passed into history... Beautifully written, affecting and sad" -- John Rentoul Independent on Sunday "A fascinating piece of social history" -- Daisy Goodwin Sunday Times "Johnson's writing style is easy, relaxed, self-deprecating. His recall and eye for detail are impressive" -- Chris Mullin Observer

Alan Johnson was born in May 1950. He is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. Johnson was the Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle until his retirement from politics in 2017.His first book, This Boy, won the RSL Ondaatje Prize and the Orwell Prize in 2013. His second, Please Mister Postman, won the National Book Award for Autobiography of the Year in 2014. His third, The Long and Winding Road, was published in 2016 and won the Parliamentary Book Award for Best Memoir.

"The best political testament I have ever read" -- Peter Wilby New Statesman "This boy can write...there's nothing second-rate about his writing. He is a natural" The Spectator "A wonderful elegy for a life that has only just passed into history... Beautifully written, affecting and sad" -- John Rentoul Independent on Sunday "A fascinating piece of social history" -- Daisy Goodwin Sunday Times "Johnson's writing style is easy, relaxed, self-deprecating. His recall and eye for detail are impressive" -- Chris Mullin Observer