5 days in the life of ... Ann Taylor MP

The leader of the House of Commons launches a White Paper on drugs

MONDAY: Started about 8am: a pre-meeting because it was the launch of the White Paper, Tackling Drugs To Build A Better Britain. Then went to a primary school in Tower Hamlets to look at a drugs education programme. It sets out to build life skills and confidence in children to help them resist drugs. Came back for lunch and media briefings, then launched the White Paper with a statement to the House with Jack Straw and Frank Dobson. When you're talking about drugs, sometimes it can be trivialised or sensationalised, but this was straightforward and we had some useful coverage. Later we had a reception at No 10, to which we invited people involved in drawing up the White Paper and those most affected by it. It was interesting to see serious people clearly pleased that the PM was taking the time to prove their work in that field was valuable.

TUESDAY: To the Commons tea-room for breakfast, as usual, and to read the papers. Then had two meetings. I've been a member for a long time and always like being in the House. Some people might find being here every day a bit of a bind; I go in some mornings at 8am and don't leave until 11pm. Later you realise you've not seen the outside world for a while.

WEDNESDAY: Had a meeting of the modernisation select committee, and sent out the questionnaire on electronic voting to MPs. Unusually, I went out for lunch - with a journalist - and came back for Prime Minister's Questions. I never miss that. Then we had a regular meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. It was a pleasant day, so I met up with Helen Jackson, an MP I know quite well, and we decided to go for a walk in St James's Park. We both just felt, 'We must get out of here'.

THURSDAY: We start early on Thursdays - I was in for a meeting at 8am, and cabinet committee at 8.30. Cabinet itself was early at 9.30. It's always quite friendly and informal but it's not just because of Tony's style, but the fact that all of us have been working together for a very long time. That makes it more constructive and productive. At 6pm I met with the British Council because they want me to do a one-day conference for them in Paris about women in Parliament.

FRIDAY: I went to two schools in Basildon as part of the campaigns for the local election. I was looking forward to seeing the Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace football match tomorrow with my son Andrew, who's 15, and daughter Isabel, 14. It's quite a highlight, as it'll be 40 years to the day since Bolton Wanderers won the FA Cup; I was 10 and remember it well. I'm even more delighted to have been invited to a dinner with the team in the evening.

Interview by Rachelle Thackray