A LEADING UK politician is to visit Penarth to discuss his memoirs.

Labour MP Alan Johnson - who formerly served as education secretary, health secretary and home secretary - will be in town next month to talk about his autobiography The Long and Winding Road, alongside Penarth's Labour MP Stephen Doughty.

The three-part series charts Mr Johnson's rise from humble beginnings to the top of the political spectrum.

The event is being organised by Griffin Books and will take place at All Saints Church, Victoria Square, at 2.30pm on Sunday November 6.

It comes on the back of the recent Penarth Literature Festival and a high profile talk given by motor racing legend Damon Hill at Glamorganshire Golf Club, which was also organised by the Windsor Road-based independent bookshop.

Mr Johnson will discuss the third volume of his memoirs.

In the first volume, This Boy, Mr Johnson described being brought up by his sister in the slums of London's West End.

Volume two, Please Mister Postman, covered his time as a postman and a union official.

And, his latest volume, The Long and Winding Road, sees him focus on to his political career, which culminated in becoming Home Secretary in 2009.

Mel Griffin, of Griffin Books, said: "I'm delighted to be bringing such a prominent and respected figure as former home secretary Alan Johnson to Penarth, building on the success of previous author events hosted by Griffin Books.

"Alan's is a remarkable story of rising from the humblest of beginnings to one of the top political positions in the land, and he remains an astute commentator on current affairs.

"Don't miss this opportunity to hear the inside story."

Tickets are now available from Griffin Books at £10 each, including refreshments and a discount on book purchases.

To book a ticket, call 02920 706455.