Lord Levy promoted his new book, A Question of Honour, at Brent Cross shopping centre last week. Kevin Bradford spoke to the Mill Hill baron about his early life, politics and and the cash for honours scandal

He was embroiled in one of the biggest political scandals of recent years. But last Thursday, Lord Michael Levy spoke openly about his career, his charity work, and his life as a long-standing resident in the borough of Barnet.

The 63-year-old former chief fundraiser for the Labour Party was at Borders in Brent Cross, publicising his new book, A Question of Honour.

And he stressed that the book aimed to entertain readers, rather than stir the political pot and dredge up old conflicts.

"I really wanted to give that life story, give the reader my feelings about so many different subjects," he said.

"This isn't just a political book, this is a life story from a poor kid who got lucky. It's about my professional life, the music business, the charitable world and then politics, and what it was like to be an outsider, not a politician coming into politics, and how politicians behaved."

After growing up in Hackney, Lord Levy qualified as an accountant before entering the music world and managing singers such as Alvin Stardust and Chris Rea.

He then befriended a young Tony Blair in 1994 and was charged with raising funds for the Labour Party, as well as being made special envoy to the Middle East.

He was later questioned over the so-called "cash for honours" scandal, but in 2007 it was announced he would not be prosecuted in connection with the case.

He said: "The whole drama of cash for peerages, which was one big political scandal that I was right in the middle of, was, as I have described it in the book and called that chapter a year in hell'. And I'm trying to give the reader that whole spectrum of my life."

He began writing the book amid pressure from his friends to record his story, after stepping down from his political life last year at the same time as Mr Blair.

"I hope I get a good reaction from readers. I hope they enjoy the book because that is who it is aimed at," he said.

"As far as the politicians are concerned, I don't want to be bitter. I want to get on with my life.

"This isn't political backstabbing, this is an honest account. This is just me, saying what I felt and how I honestly viewed that whole period and how people behaved."

Lord Levy, whose full title is Baron Levy of Mill Hill, has strong connections to the borough of Barnet, where he has lived for more than 35 years.

He said: "I must like living in the area.

"I think Barnet does a first-class job and I think it is a great borough to live in. It's an area my wife and I really enjoy living in and being part of the community."

As well as owning a house in Totteridge, he was also chair of the Golders Green-based charity, Jewish Care.

He said: "Jewish Care is one of the things in my life I'm most proud of. I was at its inception and birth and I believe it is the most wonderful organisation.

"As far as the Jewish community in the borough is concerned, it's a very vibrant and active community and a very proud Jewish community."

See a video of Lord Levy