Mission accomplished : even more things politicians wish they hadn't said (New ed)

It's amazing how often politicians' most public words come back to haunt them, and Mission Accomplished is a priceless treasure-trove of their verbal blunders, indiscretions, regrettable promises, about-turns, deceptions, lies ...and just plain stupidity.

Ranging across the centuries and across the globe this salutary and hugely funny book comes bang up-to-date with all those immortal lines our leaders have made into classics. 'This is a great day for France.' - Richard Nixon in Paris for the funeral of President Pompidou, 1974. 'It's not a day for sound bites; really, we can leave those at home.

But I feel the hand of history on our shoulder.' - Tony Blair, on the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, 1998. 'If Prime Minister Sharon had lived...he is dead, isn't he?

No? It's an easy mistake to make.' - Kim Howells, Middle East Minister, 2007. 'This 'skunk' is unbelievably powerful. It's completely different to - I think I'll stop there.' - Conservative leader, David Cameron, 2007 'I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them.' - President George W.

Bush, 2002.