Levy signs six-figure deal to tell all

Cherie Blair's memoir isn't the only autobiography due to get under Gordon Brown's skin this autumn. Lord Levy, Tony Blair's former fundraiser, has signed a six-figure contract with Simon & Schuster to publish a 'warts and all' account of his life as an advisor to Blair's government and the Labour party. Levy, who always disliked Brown and didn't mind who knew it, is "planning to leave nothing out", according to friends.

What makes his book explosive is that Levy, like Blair, sees no reason why he should submit his manuscript for approval to the special Cabinet Office subcommittee which has the power to cut any extracts that convene the Official Secrets Act. Like Cherie, Levy will apparently argue that because he was not on the Downing Street payroll - his work as a Middle East envoy and advisor on city academics was voluntary - the official censor has no right to see the book before publication.

A friend of Levy's told the Sunday Times: "Michael is not planning to break the Official Secrets Act so doesn't see why anyone in government should see his book."

Levy, dubbed Lord Cashpoint for his ability to persuade wealthy businessmen to fork out for the Labour party, was arrested last year - but never charged - during the long-running police investigation into the cash-for-honours affair.

While he is bound to use the book to put his side of the story regarding cash-for-honours, he is also likely to "settle some scores with Brownites", according to a confidant, who added: "Michael loved Tony right to the end but he always thought Gordon was strange and antagonistic."