HarperCollins stands by autumn publication date for Cameron's memoir

HarperCollins insists it will publish David Cameron's memoir this autumn as planned amid reports the former prime minister is pushing back publication due to a promise he made to Theresa May. 

According to the Daily Mail, Cameron said “I honestly don’t know when it’s coming out.” He reportedly gave May a private understanding that he would not publish the autobiography until after Britain had left the European Union so as "not to rock the boat". As it stands Britain is not scheduled to leave the EU until 31st October. 

Cameron's office had allegedly cleared his diary for the first three weeks in April for him to start publicising the memoir and the HarperCollins imprint had planned a nationwide tour as well as dates in the US. William Collins is reportedly also “demanding” a 100,000 cut to the manuscript.

“It's frustrating because David finished writing the book three months ago,” a friend of the former prime minister apparently told the Mail.

But HarperCollins told The Bookseller: "We are publishing this autumn as planned." No exact date has been specified for publication.

The publisher acquired world rights to the memoir in 2016 in a "hotly contested and significant deal", reportedly worth £800,000, negotiated with the late literary agent Ed Victor. At the time the publisher said the book was "a frank and personal account" of Cameron's reign at Number 10, and had been scheduled for publication last year.