Product Description

'Kavanagh and Seldon's view of 20th-century British politics from behind the doors of Number10 should be compulsory reading. "The Powers Behind the Prime Minister" rattles along like some great pageant on the theme of "Yes, Minister".' Sue Cameron, Sunday Telegraph In this exclusive and important book, Dennis Kavanagh and Anthony Seldon reveal, for the first time, the truth about Number 10 Downing Street and how successive Prime Ministers have used the house to consolidate their power. Their book is to Number 10 what Peter Hennessy's study was to Whitehall -- a close examination of a British Prime Minister's power centre -- showing how successive PMs have wielded power within its walls. The authors had unprecedented access to contacts inside 10 Downing Street who agreed to speak to them exclusively and for the first time -- civil servants, political advisors, secretaries and politicians. They have also talked to every Prime Minister still living. The book, as a result, contains controversial material never disclosed before. It also looks closely at the workings of power within Number 10 and the importance of geography inside the house for access to the Prime Minister, and to information and influence. 'The Powers Behind the Prime Minister' sheds sensational new light on many of our PMs. 'The best account of the Blair inner circle.' Peter Riddell, The Times Books of the Year

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #145524 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Review
'The best account of hte Blair inner circle.' Peter Riddell, The Times, Books of the Year 'An invaluable narrative history, very accurately charted, of a surprisingly under-researched institution, 10 Downing Street itself and the small group of people around successive Prime Ministers who have kept the show on the road.' David Willetts, TLS 'Office politics writ huge, The Powers Behind hte Prime Minister rattles along like some great pageant on the theme of Yes, Minister;' Sue Cameron, Sunday Telegraph 'A testament to our constitutional informality... impressive and vigorous.' Sarah Hogg, Financial Times

About the Author
Dr Anthony Seldon is a distinguished political historian whose previous books include the authorised biography of John Major. He is ideally positioned to interview all the living Prime Ministers who have resided at Number 10, as well as their families, to get the true picture of life inside the house. He is the Headmaster of Brighton College. Dr Dennis Kavanagh is Professor of Politics at Liverpool University. 'This could be the Kavanagh/Seldon pendulum law of British politics.' BERNARD INGHAM, New Statesman 'Most entertaining' ROY HATTERSLEY, Independent

Customer Reviews

First Rate, Old Labour to New Via Thatcher.
This book looks as Number Ten as a political department, it examines the political scene by showing how it it dominated by the Prime Minister. Taking us from Wilson's last two years up to the first two of Blair's premiership, it is a comprehensive study of the centre of power since 1970. It shows how each Premier made an impact on the workings of the political machinery of government and how successful they were in their attempts.

A good background to the geography of politics was very useful, basically who gets an office near the PM. It is also interesting seeing who is in and out of Blair's inner circle. The role of the civil service and press secretaries, are valuable topics of discussion. This is particularly so with the rise of the high profile members of the Thatcher and Blair teams (Bernard Ingham, Alistair Campbell and Johnathan Powell).

Looking at the progression of Number Ten as a poltical cockpit over thirty years gives us an idea of the similar approaches made by Prime Ministers. Have we been here before ? Does Blair attempt to replicate some of Thatcher's methods of controlling Cabinet, civil service, the party machine and so on ?

Harold Wilson tried to revolutionise British government, this book can have an overview of the previous Labour administration and how the civil service moved into the Thatcher period. Radicalism was off the agenda under Major, but Seldon and Kavanagh look at relations between Prime Minister and Chancellor which were difficult at times with both Clarke and Lamont. Can we see parrallels in Blair and Brown ? And as governments change the relationships between key Ministers is always important, Geoffrey Howe's treatment by Thatcher, meant that her own position was weakened. Blair and others might read this and learn lessons for the future.

Next we need a volume covering 1935 to 1970, a book on the previous six men who lived in Ten Downing Street; Get writing Seldon and Kavanagh.

An excellent book, to be read and re-read.

interesting subject, but poor teatment
This could be an interesting book, but it falls between two stools, satisfying neither the politics junky (as it isn't presented in an exciting way) nor the academic reader (as it reads more like a list than a serious academic work that puts forward a theory it then tries to prove). The writers get bogged down in unnecessary detail (like the furniture arrangement in number ten!) which don't illuminate the process of government behind the famous black door nor excite us with interesting anecdotes.

A work of undoubtable quality
Whilst the underlying theme of this book (that the prime minister is not as powerful as previous analyses have suggested) the actual content of the research is fascinating and is obviously the result to many years of research by two scholars of great reputation. Undoubtably this book will become the standard work for Whitehall watchers.