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How to Be a Minister: A 21st-Century Guide
by John HuttonAll ministerial careers end in failure, but they start in hope. True, not everyone expects to end up in No. 10, but everyone wants to do something important. Politics has all sorts of downsides as a career choice but the fortunate few get the opportunity to do something meaningful - prevent or win wars, reduce poverty, create the NHS or, just sometimes, put an end to real injustice. How to Be a Minister launches you into your fledgling ministerial career and shows you how to proceed. This is a fail-safe guide to how to survive as a Secretary of State in Her Majesty's Government, from dealing with civil servants, Cabinet colleagues, the opposition and the media, to coping with the bad times whilst managing the good (and how to resign with a modicum of dignity intact when it all inevitably falls apart). Co-written by former Labour minister John Hutton and former Permanent Secretary Sir Leigh Lewis, How to Be a Minister is not only an invaluable survival guide for ambitious MPs but a tantalising view into the working lives of the people we elect to run our country.
The Politicos Guide to the 2015 General Election: Profiles Of The New Mps And Analysis Of The 2015 General Election
by Iain Dale Greg Callus Daniel Hamilton Robert WallerAs the 2015 general election looms on the horizon, the only thing anyone can seem to agree on is that it will be unpredictable, not least because, for the first time in our history, we are experiencing the brave new world of four-party politics. Here, in one volume, is everything you need to know about what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting general elections of the last twenty years. In this unique guide to the state of the parties, policies and polls, you'll find expert predictions and commentary from political pundits, as well as all the facts and figures you need to make an informed decision at the ballot box.This essential guide includes:Analysis of key marginal seatsInformation about demographics, voting intentions and past electoral behaviourExamples of historical precedentLists of prospective candidatesProfiles of the main party leadersArticles on the role of social media and the traditional mediaBreakdowns of regional and constituency data.A book that will appeal to enthusiastic politicos and inquisitive voters alike, this is the essential guide to the most eagerly awaited general election in recent history.
Why Vote Labour 2015: The Essential Guide (Why Vote #1)
by Dan Jarvis Ed MilibandWill the 2015 general election herald the return of a Labour-dominated government? Could another coalition be on the cards with a rival party, or will the Labour Party be doomed to remain in opposition for another term? In this concise and authoritative guide, Dan Jarvis MP brings together a cast of Labour's brightest and best to explain how the Labour Party proposes to address the problems facing the nation today if they win power in 2015. Exploring the party's key policies, agendas and traditional commitments, with case studies and contributions from experts and members of the public, Why Vote Labour 2015 will prove invaluable in helping you decide where to place your vote on 7 May.
Why Vote Liberal Democrat 2015: The Essential Guide (Why Vote #3)
by Jeremy BrowneThe 2010 general election saw the largest popular vote for the Liberal Democrats since the party's creation, but will they build on that success in 2015? Could they become partners in another coalition government or will they join the ranks in opposition? In this concise and accessible guide, Liberal Democrat Jeremy Browne explains how the Lib Dems are best placed to tackle both the problems facing the nation today and those of its future - and why they deserve your vote on 7 May. By exploring the party's key policies, agendas and traditional commitments, Why Vote Liberal Democrat 2015 will prove invaluable in helping you decide where to place your vote.
Why Vote UKIP 2015: The Essential Guide (Why Vote #2)
by Suzanne EvansWill UKIP follow their European election success of 2014 and make unprecedented gains at the next general election? In this concise and accessible guide, UKIP's deputy chairman Suzanne Evans explains what the UK would look like under the leadership of Nigel Farage, and why a vote for UKIP is a vote for Britain. By exploring the party's key policies, agendas and commitments, Why Vote UKIP 2015 will prove invaluable in helping you decide where to place your vote.
Why Vote Conservative 2015: The Essential Guide (Why Vote #4)
by Nick HerbertThe Conservative Party wants to win the 2015 general election with an outright majority. But what should be the party's purpose in government? In this unique guide, Conservative MP Nick Herbert explores the values that have ensured the party's success for the better part of the last hundred years, and sets out how they should be applied to build another Conservative century. Why Vote Conservative 2015 proposes a radical Conservative agenda to reform political institutions, bring government closer to the people, personalise public services and lower taxes.
Breaking the Code: Westminster Diaries
by Gyles Brandreth"Brandreth is the true Samuel Pepys of our day." Andrew Neil, BBC Radio Five Live "Brandreth, for my money, offers about the most honest, and the most amusing, account of the demented, beery futility of the Tory-ruled Commons in the 1990s." Boris Johnson, Daily Telegraph "Hilariously acute ... Irresistible." Matthew d'Ancona, Sunday Telegraph "Extremely touching ... Brandreth emerges as a decent, amusing, talented and charming man." Simon Heffer, Daily Mail "As a witty and insightful chronicler ... Brandreth is unsurpassed." Michael Simmons, The Spectator Gyles Brandreth's revealing journal paints an extraordinary portrait of Whitehall and Westminster in our time - warts and all. Brandreth - MP for Chester and government whip - enjoyed a ringside seat at the great political events of the 1990s, from the fall of Margaret Thatcher to the election of Tony Blair. With candid descriptions of the key figures of the era, from the leading players to the ministers who fell from grace, and a cast that includes the Queen, Bill Clinton and Joanna Lumley, these widely acclaimed diaries provide a fascinating insight into both the reality of modern government and the bizarre life of a parliamentary candidate and new MP. Controversially, Breaking the Code also contains the first ever insider's account of the hitherto secret world that is the Government Whips' Office. This new, complete edition features material previously excised for legal reasons, as well as additional diaries that take the story on another ten years to the departure of Tony Blair and the arrival as Tory leader of David Cameron - a bright young hopeful when Brandreth first meets him in 1993.
Chance Encounters: Tales from a Varied Life
by Tim Razzall"I met Frank Sinatra through Robert Maxwell. That's if you can be said to have met someone who was on a private jet with you for fourteen hours and never spoke to you." So begins Chance Encounters, a charming insight into the extraordinary people, places and politics experienced in one varied and fascinating life. Over the last fifty years, Tim Razzall has forged successful careers in law, business and politics, rising to become both a CBE and a life peer. From his time representing the biggest names in rock music to his sortie among the big hitters of the City takeover mania in the fifties, Razzall has rubbed shoulders with the Beatles, Bill Clinton and Bertrand Russell, among many, many others. Throughout all this, he has had a key role in the rise of the Liberal Democrats from fringe party to partner in government. As an adviser to Paddy Ashdown, Razzall was a major player in the Lib Dems' covert relationship with Tony Blair. As party treasurer for twelve years, he had a front-row view of the pleasures and perils of political fundraising. Having been an adviser to Charles Kennedy - and best man at his wedding - Razzall divulges frank details of the problems that led to the former leader's resignation, as well as speaking candidly and astutely about the personalities in the House of Lords. No traditional, dry autobiography, Chance Encounters is a brisk, high-spirited romp through the worlds of business, entertainment and politics, dispensing insight and humour in equal measure.
An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians?
by Geoffrey RobertsonThe most controversial question that is still being asked about the First World War - was there an Armenian genocide? - will come to a head on 24 April 2015, when Armenians worldwide will commemorate its centenary and Turkey will deny that it took place, claiming that the deaths of over half of the Armenian race were justified. This has become a vital international issue. Twenty national parliaments in democratic countries have voted to recognise the genocide, but Britain and the USA continue to equivocate for fear of alienating their NATO ally. Geoffrey Robertson QC condemns this hypocrisy, and in An Inconvenient Genocide he proves beyond reasonable doubt that the horrific events in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 constitute the crime against humanity that is today known as genocide. He explains how democracies can deal with genocide denial without infringing free speech, and makes a major contribution to understanding and preventing this worst of all crimes. His renowned powers of advocacy are on full display as he condemns all those - from Sri Lanka to the Sudan, from Old Anatolia to modern Syria and Iraq - who try to justify the mass murder of children and civilians in the name of military necessity or religious fervour.
Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box: 50 Things You Need To Know About British Elections
by Philip CowleyHAVE YOU EVER WONDERED... ... what emotions really influence where your cross goes on the ballot paper? ... whether people are claiming to vote when they haven't? ... which party's supporters are the kinkiest in bed? In the run-up to the most hotly contested and unpredictable election in a generation, this exhilarating read injects some life back into the world of British electoral politics. Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box sheds light on some of our more unusual voting trends, ranging from why people lie about voting to how being attractive can get you elected. Each of the fifty accessible and concise chapters, written by leading political experts, seeks to examine the broader issues surrounding voting and elections in Britain. It is not just about sexual secrets and skewed surveys: it illustrates the importance of women and ethnic minorities; explains why parties knock on your door (and why they don't); and shows how partisanship colours your views of everything, even pets. This fascinating volume covers everything you need to know (and the things you never thought you needed to know) about the bedroom habits, political untruths and voting nuances behind the upcoming election. 'This book is such an utterly brilliant idea it is ridiculous that no one has thought of it before ... I cannot recommend it highly enough.' John Rentoul
Adventures of a British Master Spy: The Memoirs of Sidney Reilly (Dialogue Espionage Classics Ser.)
by Sidney ReillyA real-life James Bond, alleged to have spied for at least four nations and executed on the direct orders of Stalin himself, Sidney Reilly left a trail of false identities that made him precisely the type of person the secret intelligence service needed as an agent. Hero, conman, master spy, womaniser - who really was the 'Ace of Spies'? In September 1925, Sidney Reilly journeyed across the Russian frontier on a mission to overthrow the existing Bolshevik regime and restore the Czar. Yet, soon after, he vanished without a trace... Just like the life he led, the circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery and speculation. This thrilling autobiography, including entries from Reilly's own secret notes, reveals the intriguing, and often perilous, adventures and exploits of the man widely credited as being the original twentieth-century super-spy - and an inspiration for Ian Fleming's 007 thrillers. The latter half of this dual narrative is provided by Reilly's wife, Pepita, who is on her own mission: to discover the truth behind her husband's disappearance. What did happen to the master of espionage? The Dialogue Espionage Classics series began in 2010 with the purpose of bringing back classic out-of-print spy stories that should never be forgotten. From the Great War to the Cold War, from the French Resistance to the Cambridge Five, from Special Operations to Bletchley Park, this fascinating spy history series includes some of the best military, espionage and adventure stories ever told.
Ready for Hillary?: Portrait of a President in waiting
by Robin RenwickHillary Rodham Clinton was the first First Lady to have her own office in the West Wing of the White House and the only First Lady ever to be subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. Upon leaving the White House, she was elected as the first female Senator for New York, then served as one of America's most popular Secretaries of State. Will she now become the first female President of the United States? Hillary is poised to decide whether she will launch a fresh attempt to take the highest office in the world and make history in doing so. But what is Hillary really like? Will she run? Can she win? What can the world expect from Hillary if she does get back to the White House? What sort of President would she be? Robin Renwick, who was the British ambassador in Washington when the Clintons arrived in the White House, seeks to answer these questions and more in this vivid portrait of one of the most polarising and central figures in recent US political history.
Omnirambles: The Collected Writings of Damian McBride
by Damian McBrideHis explosive insider memoir Power Trip was hailed as the must-read of 2013, making The Thick of It look tame, and now Damian McBride is back with more razor-sharp observations taken from his widely acclaimed blog. The former spin-doctor, a pivotal but notorious figure in the New Labour government, has since become one of the most sought-after commentators on all things political - and it's easy to see why. McBride's musings provide frank and fascinating accounts of the functions (or dysfunctions) of the political machine, and the peculiar machinations of its operators. Now, in Omnirambles, they are brought together for the first time in one collection. Delivered with the same no-holds-barred acuity and inimitable wit present in his debut bestseller, McBride once again proves himself to be one of today's most controversial and incisive political voices.
Their Trade is Treachery: The full, unexpurgated truth about the Russian penetration of the world's secret defences (Dialogue Espionage Classics Ser.)
by Harry Champan PincherHarry Chapman Pincher is regarded as one of the finest investigative reporters of the twentieth century. Over the course of a glittering six-decade career, he became notorious as a relentless investigator of spies and their secret trade, proving to be a constant thorn in the side of the establishment. So influential was he that Prime Minister Harold Macmillan once asked, 'Can nothing be done to suppress Mr Chapman Pincher?' It is for his sensational 1981 book, Their Trade is Treachery, that he is perhaps best known. In this extraordinary volume he dissected the Soviet Union's inflitration of the western world and helped unmask the Cambridge Five. He also outlined his suspicions that former MI5 chief Roger Hollis was in fact a super spy at the heart of a ring of double agents poisoning the secret intelligence service from within. However, the Hollis revelation was just one of the book's many astounding coups. Its impact at the time was immense and highly controversial, sending ripples through the British intelligence and political landscapes. Never before had any writer penetrated so deeply and authoritatively into this world - and few have since. Available now for the first time in thirty years, this eye-opening volume is an incomparable and definitive account of the thrilling nature of Cold War espionage and treachery. The Dialogue Espionage Classics series began in 2010 with the purpose of bringing back classic out-of-print spy stories that should never be forgotten. From the Great War to the Cold War, from the French Resistance to the Cambridge Five, from Special Operations to Bletchley Park, this fascinating spy history series includes some of the best military, espionage and adventure stories ever told.
Thank You for This Moment: A story of love, power and betrayal
by Valérie TrierweilerThe breakdown of Valérie Trierweiler's relationship with French President François Hollande was spread mercilessly across the front pages. News of Hollande's infidelity first broke in January 2014, when Closer magazine published photographs allegedly proving a secret affair between him and actress Julie Gayet. Trierweiler learnt of the affair through the press, just like everyone else, and was subsequently hospitalised. As the world's media descended on the salacious details of the story and its damaging political implications, the embattled President vowed to see out his term in the face of rapidly sinking approval ratings. First published in France in September 2014, it promptly became the fastest-selling book in French history. Trierweiler's memoir proved incendiary, sending shockwaves through the establishment for its revelations about the President's politics and personal life. In a nation that strives not to pry into the private lives of its politicians, the book sparked intense debate about the role of 'the President's bedroom' in political life and public discourse. Thank You for This Moment is the unapologetic and unadulterated account of Trierweiler's years with the President. Told with shattering clarity, it displays a voice that refuses to be silenced for political expediency.
The Kremlin's Geordie Spy: The Man They Swapped for Gary Powers
by Vin ArtheyDiscover an extraordinary, true-life adventure that could have appeared straight from the pages of a John le Carré Cold War novel. In February 1962 Gary Powers, the American pilot whose U-2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet Union airspace, was released by his Russian captors in exchange for one of their own, Soviet KGB Colonel Vilyam Fisher. Colonel Fisher was remarkable, not least because he was born plain Willie Fisher at number 142 Clara Street, Benwell, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Willie's revolutionary parents fled Russia in 1901, settling in the north-east, where Willie was brought up to share the family ideology. Leaving England for the newly formed Soviet Union in 1921, Willie began a career as a spy. Narrowly escaping Stalin's purges, Willie was sent to spy in New York, where he ran the network that included notorious atom spies Julius Rosenberg and Ted Hall. In 1957 he was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Six years later, the USSR's regard for Willie's talents was proven when they insisted on swapping him for the stricken Powers. Tracing Willie's story from the most unlikely of beginnings in Newcastle, to Moscow, New York and back again, The Kremlin's Geordie Spy is a singular and absorbing true story of Cold War espionage to rival anything in fiction.
Alex Salmond: The Cochrane Diaries
by Alan CochraneAlan Cochrane - or 'that ghastly man from the Telegraph', as Alex Salmond's wife calls him - emerged as a Unionist hero in Scotland's recent independence battle. Using his daily newspaper column and his enviable list of Westminster and Scottish contacts, the veteran journalist mounted a personal mission to ensure the survival of the United Kingdom and the downfall of Alex Salmond's Scottish nationalist cause. At the same time, Cochrane was secretly keeping a diary charting every twist and turn in the campaign, from Westminster's decision on whether to allow the ballot to go ahead to Gordon Brown's late entry onto the scene as tensions mounted in the No camp. Through the pages of this illuminating journal, Cochrane reveals the truth about how the UK was won, offering biting analysis, telling detail and often trenchant wit. As the polls narrowed in the run-up to 18 September, the historic fight for Britain brought out the best and the worst in the characters involved. With his behind-the-scenes access to David Cameron, Alistair Darling, Gordon Brown and everyone in between, Alan Cochrane raises the curtain on the panicked, incompetent and cynical world of modern politics, sparing no one from his acerbic tongue.
Odd People: Hunting Spies in the First World War (Dialogue Espionage Classics Ser.)
by Basil ThomsonFirst World War espionage was a fascinating and dangerous affair, spawning widespread paranoia in its clandestine wake. The hysteria of the age, stoked by those within the British establishment who sought to manipulate popular panic, meant there was no shortage of suspects. Exaggerated claims were rife: some 80,000 Germans were supposedly hidden all over Britain, just waiting for an impending (and imagined) invasion. No one could be trusted... Against this backdrop, as head of Scotland Yard's Criminal Investigation Department, it was Basil Thomson's responsibility to hunt, arrest and interrogate the potential German spies identified by the nascent British intelligence services. Thomson's story is an extraordinary compendium of sleuthing and secrets from a real-life Sherlock Holmes, following the trails of the many specimens he tracked, including the famous dancer, courtesan and spy, Mata Hari. Yet his activities gained him enemies, as did his criticism of British intelligence, his ambition to control MI5 and his efforts to root out left-wing revolutionaries - which would ultimately prove to be the undoing of his career. Odd People is the insightful and wittily observed account of Thomson's incomparably exciting job, offering us a rare glimpse into the dizzying world of spies and the mind of the detective charged with foiling their elaborate plots. The Dialogue Espionage Classics series began in 2010 with the purpose of bringing back classic out-of-print spy stories that should never be forgotten. From the Great War to the Cold War, from the French Resistance to the Cambridge Five, from Special Operations to Bletchley Park, this fascinating spy history series includes some of the best military, espionage and adventure stories ever told.
The End of Apartheid: Diary of a Revolution
by Robin RenwickIn 2 February 1990, FW de Klerk made a speech that changed the history of South Africa. Nine days later, the world watched as Nelson Mandela walked free from the Viktor Verster prison. In the midst of these events was Lord Renwick, Margaret Thatcher's envoy to South Africa, who became a personal friend of Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, acting as a trusted intermediary between them. He warned PW Botha against military attacks on neighbouring countries, in meetings he likens to 'calling on the führer in his bunker'. He invited Mandela to his first meal in a restaurant for twenty-seven years, rehearsing him for his meeting with Margaret Thatcher - and told Thatcher that she must not interrupt him. Their discussion went on so long that the British press in Downing Street started chanting 'Free Nelson Mandela'.In this extraordinary insider's account, Renwick draws on his diaries of the time, as well as previously unpublished material from the Foreign Office and Downing Street files. He paints a vivid, affectionate, real-life portrait of Mandela as a wily and resourceful political leader bent on out-manoeuvring both adversaries and some of his own colleagues in pursuit of a peaceful outcome.
Double Cross in Cairo: The True Story of the Spy Who Turned the Tide of War in the Middle East
by Nigel WestAs part of the infamous Double Cross operation, Jewish double agent Renato Levi proved to be one of the Allies' most devastating weapons in World War Two. ln 1941, with the help of Ml6, Levi built an extensive spy-ring in North Africa and the Middle East. But, most remarkably, it was entirely fictitious. This network of imagined informants peddled dangerously false misinformation to Levi's unwitting German handlers. His efforts would distort any enemy estimates of Allied battle plans for the remainder of the war. His communications were infused with just enough truth to be palatable, and just enough imagination to make them irresistible. ln a vacuum of seemingly trustworthy sources, Levi's enemies not only believed in the CHEESE network, as it was codenamed, but they came to depend upon it. And, by the war's conclusion, he could boast of having helped the Allies thwart Rommel in North Africa, as well as diverting whole armies from the D-Day landing sites. He wielded great influence and, as a double agent, he was unrivalled. Until now, Levi's devilish deceptions and feats of derring-do have remained completely hidden. Using recently declassified fi les, Double Cross in Cairo uncovers the heroic exploits of one of the Second World War's most closely guarded secrets.
In My Own Time: Reminiscences Of A Liberal Leader
by Jeremy ThorpeOne of the most charismatic politicians of his age, Jeremy Thorpe recalls important events and episodes from his life in politics in this fascinating collection of anecdotes and reminiscences. In it he speaks candidly about important national events in his personal life and political career. For the first time Jeremy Thorpe speaks of his trial and acquittal in 1979. He puts on record his account of the coalition talks with Edward Heath in 1974 and describes the debilitating effects of Parkinson's Disease, from which he suffered until his death in 2014.
The Problem With Immigrants
by Derek LaudIn modern Britain, barely a day goes by without a politician, pundit, paper or pub-goer launching into a tirade about 'the problem with immigrants' and what should be done to tackle it. High unemployment, overcrowded schools, benefit scrounging, housing shortages, stretched healthcare services ... pretty much every issue facing the country today seems to be pinned on immigration - but is it really a problem at all? In this fascinating book, Derek Laud sets out to challenge the widespread misconceptions and prejudices surrounding those who have relocated to the UK. He examines the social, economic and cultural impact of immigration across the centuries, and addresses the question of why some ethnic communities struggle here while others thrive. An insightful, thought-provoking and timely examination of one of the most significant issues of our time, this is an indispensable and refreshingly nuanced contribution to the immigration debate.
It's The Economy, Stupid: Economics for Voters
by Vicky PrycePollsters are constantly worrying about our perceptions of politicians. What do their other halves look like? Who looks best when eating a bacon sandwich? Should they even be eating bacon sandwiches in the first place? For the voter, though, it all comes down to one thing: the economy. While good economic news can send popularity sky-rocketing, bad performance can blight a party's election chances for years. But, with policies often working with time lags, it's rarely clear who is responsible for what - especially when their stances on the biggest issues of the day - immigration, the EU, the NHS - are clouded in rhetoric rather than grounded in hard economic fact. It's the Economy, Stupid sets out to change al l that. This incisive, accessible guide explodes some of the most entrenched myths of British political debate. Does immigration help or harm our economy? Are austerity measures the best way to tackle a financial meltdown? Is the NHS in crisis? With answers to all these questions and more, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to know how their vote will affect their financial future.
Nigel Farage in His Own Words
by Andrew LiddleWhether you love or loathe him, no one can deny the reinvigorating effect that Nigel Farage has had upon political debate in Britain in recent years. Indeed, it is to him and his energetic leadership that UKIP owes much of its success. Positioning himself as a lone splash of colour in an era of monotone political leaders, Farage's apparent fearlessness and off-message willingness to speak his mind, while horrifying many, have offered a tonic to those who are sick to death of the usual round of sound-bite politicians. In Nigel Farage In His Own Words, journalist Andrew Liddle offers an entertaining selection of Nigel's most controversial, often laugh-out-loud funny, tell-it-like it-is bon mots and politically incorrect public utterances, as well as some of the heated responses they have generated.
Why Vote Green 2015: The Essential Guide (Why Vote #5)
by Shahrar AliThe recent groundswell of support for the Greens has made them something of a dark horse in British politics. Will the party build on Caroline Lucas's 2010 breakthrough and convince the electorate that they will govern for more than just the environment? Deputy leader Shahrar Ali recruits some of the Greens' leading thinkers and activists to explore how the party provides a credible left-wing alternative to Labour in 2015. Setting out the party's key policies, commitments and ambitions, Why Vote Green 2015 creates a compelling case for the Greens as a party of government, and will prove invaluable in helping you decide where to place your vote.