Before Spin is the eye-opening autobiography by Keith McDowall. It reveals an exciting wartime childhood, how the author became a local reporter chasing the news in South London to eventually working in Fleet Street where he covered industry, trade unions and Cabinet level politics. At the height of his career in the Government Information Service, Keith was a close adviser to both Labour and Conservative Cabinet Ministers throughout the 1970s and 80s. Keith’s story takes the reader to the heart of politics and the government and we learn of his toughest role with William Whitelaw, first Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, during the historic period of direct rule in Ulster. Over a career spanning 60 years, this is a tale of shrewd, quiet influence at the top of British politics, industry and issue management but rejects today’s concept of ‘spin’ which the author considers naive and lacking integrity.