By Paul Hutcheon
Scottish Political Editor

JACK McConnell is preparing to write a book about his five-and-a-half years as first minister, the Sunday Herald has learned.

The former Scottish Labour leader has gathered all his notes and is ready to talk to publishers about a memoir he believes could establish his legacy.

He intends to break his silence on the perceived lack of support he was offered at Westminster for his flagship policies.

McConnell was Scotland's longest-serving first minister until Labour lost last year's Holyrood election.

Sincethen,theMotherwelland Wishaw MSP has remained tight-lipped about his party's defeat, but now he is set to spill the beans. McConnell is ready to talk to publishers about a project he hopes will establish his reputation as the Labour leader who "made devolution work".

The book will chart his five-and-a-half years as first minister, with a particular focus on the policies that distinguishedhisExecutivefrom Westminster.

ItisunderstoodthatMcConnell will concentrate on subjects such as the ban on smoking in public places pushed through by his administration, as well as his pro-immigration policy and initiative to boost aid to Malawi.

McConnell is known to be angry about the lack of support offered by the UK government for his efforts to help the African country, a feeling he will make clear in the book.

He is also intending to document his Executive's many battles with Westminster when he led Labour at Holyrood.

In particular, it is likely that he will "lift the lid" on the party's Holyrood election campaign last April, during which McConnell clashed with senior Labour figures on strategy.

A friend of McConnell's said: "Jack doesn't have a publisher yet, but he has all his notes in place and is ready to write a book.

"He will write about his time in office, with an emphasis on his achievements as first minister."

News of the former first minister's bookprojectcomesashemissedthe Scottish Labour's Party conference in Aviemore this weekend in order to visit Malawi.

McConnell and Wendy Alexander, his successor as Labour's Holyrood leader, arenotcloseandtheformerfirst minister is believed to be unimpressed by the current state of the party.

McConnell is also known to be angry thatthepeeragehediscussedwith Prime Minister Gordon Brown last year still has not materialised.

A spokesman for McConnell could not be contacted last night.