From the first chapter it seems like this is going to be one for political nerds and journalists. The Labour leader of the novel is clearly a barely disguised Tony Blair. I think the author is going to have to work pretty hard to make Gil a likeable character because he's certainly not on the basis of this excerpt. There are just a few signs he might not be completely self-obsessed and I'm guessing it won't be long until the story moves into conspiracy theory territory.