Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50834 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-19
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Telegraph
'gives a clear and convincing account of how Cameron raced past
far better-known...experienced rivals to become leader...'

Sunday Telegraph
'If anyone doubts Cameron's classic Tory credentials, then this
highly rewarding biography lays out the story brilliantly.'

Independent
'This essential political textbook will be required reading for
every journalist covering David Cameron's every move until the general
election.'

Customer Reviews

Sense of the character of the man
Very interesting read since it gives you a good sense of the character of the man today. He comes across as extremely intelligent, able and a great communicator, if somewhat lacking in the real life experience of many common people.

I'm no poltics twitcher but this is superb....
This book is immensely informative and easy to read, and fascinating to boot.

The two parts that stuck out in my mind were the chapters on Cameron's disabled son, Ivan, and the chapter in which Cameron lost the seat of Stafford in 1997. On a dreadful night for the Tories, the so-called 'safe Tory seat' lost its 10,000 majority to Labour. Abandoned by the constituency party, Cameron faced alone a town hall with the celebrating New Labour groupies and the Monster Raving Loony Party. This was topped off at the end of the night by a tearful pensioner saying to Cameron, "I don't want to die under a Labour government." Stung, Cameron vowed to do something about it.

The chapter on Ivan is deeply poignant and highlights an inner steal and resolve that belies Cameron's friendly approach. Peter Hitchens, who criticised Cameron for "always having had everything easy in life" in a television documentary, has publicly issued an apology to Cameron after reading this book.

A real page turner, and one that will help alter perceptions of Cameron as a Blair-wannabe. As the book says, Cameron is a Conservative right down to his bones, he was born into it, and actually - unlike George Osborne or Steve Hilton for example - is only a fairly recent convert to 'modern, compassionate Conservatism' himself.

Excellent.

Heeeeres Dave!
Anyone with an interest in politics should be reading this book.

While describing a politician's biography as a 'page turner' may seem implausible, this is a book that is very readable and gives multiple insights into the formation of 'Dave' and his rise to Tory leader within 5 years of election as an MP.

That said, the first chapters seem rather worthy, being chronicles of Cameron's school days. In reality, such narrative is one of the strengths of the book, as it gives readers an insight into the world of the moneyed classes which Cameron comes from and his formative influences such as losing a 'safe' seat in 1997 and being on the Treasury team during "Black Wednesday". Knee-jerk class-warriors will instinctively despise him for Eton, Oxford, homes with tennis courts and the assumption that summer would mean languid days around the pool at a Italian villa.

Although not mentioned by the authors, Dave's unobserved presence at seminal events in Tory party history reminded me of Woody Allen's character 'Zelig', a human-chameleon who adapts to fit into any situation so that he will be comfortable and never experience any anxiety. But after examining the evidence of policy flip-flopping, political opportunism, presentation over substance etc., the authors generally find in favour of their man.

A value of the book comes from matching how Dave mines his insiders view of the many. many party bungles from 1992 to 2003 to inform and guide his actions now.

The core observation is that he is using his own media savvy & 'likeability' to remove the stigma of the Tories as the 'Nasty Party' before he attempts to lay out the policies to voters.