It wasn'T the count at the King George's Hall, nor the record majority, that made it finally sink in that our life had changed in some fundamental way.

It was something that happened in the middle of the night - ten years ago, in the early hours of May 2 1997.

I was awoken by something I'd never heard before in all the years we'd lived in our house in Blackburn - the sound of voices below our first-floor bedroom window.

In my exhaustion and semi-consciousness I couldn't work it out at first.

Someone might just be trying to break in: but they'd hardly be drawing attention to themselves.

Why would anyone be nattering? I looked out, saw two police officers, and then came to.

John Major was technically still Prime Minister; Michael Howard Home Secretary.

But it was obvious from the nationwide results that we would form a government.

I'd been Shadow Home Secretary for three years.

There was no guarantee whatever that any of us would end up in the same position in the new government and quite a few colleagues did not.

But the Lancashire Constabulary evidently had a better idea of what would be in the new Prime Minister's mind, so put the protection on the house, "just in case".

I'd been told to get to London by lunch time and then await a call.

So it was an early train for the family - the whole tribe had been with me in Blackburn, and more police officers - this time from British Transport Police, who also seemed to have better information than did we.

We went back to our London home. I'm one of those lucky people who can sleep anytime, anywhere - (standing up for 5 minutes if that's all that's available).

I'd been asked to arrive at Downing Street for 5pm, so two hours' sleep beckoned.

I was however woken much earlier up by friends, who called to say "Congratulations. You're Home Secretary."

"No I'm not," I replied, "I'm in bed and I'm not anything yet.

"It's very sweet of you to phone, but why do you think I've been appointed already?"

"It's been on the BBC radio news so it must be true."

An hour later, I was taken to No10. I saw the new Prime Minister who confirmed what, bizarrely, the BBC had told the world and my friends an hour before - I was indeed to be Home Secretary.

I went outside into the bright sun in Downing Street, saw Robin Cook, who had just been made Foreign Secretary.

There was then a lovely moment as, quite spontaneously, we hugged each other.

I guess in relief that after 18 years of opposition the public had at last given us their trust to govern.

Then two detectives with very short hair and natty suits announced that they "would be looking after me".

I said goodbye to my to my volunteer trade union driver and was placed in an armoured Jaguar.

But opposition is about what you say you will do; government is about what you do in real life, now.

Whether you've got the bottle for that is something that has to be discovered on the job.

The day before he died John Smith, then Labour leader, addressed a dinner I attended.

"All we seek is the chance to serve". He sadly never lived to see that day.

I have been infinitely more fortunate.