Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28317 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Whatever you think of Boris Johnson's politics, it is hard to deny the man's ability to raise a chortle, as evidenced in Friends, Voters, Countrymen. Not content with gainful employment as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph, editor of the Spectator and regular contestant on Have I Got News For You, Johnson decided to turn his hand to politics on the principle that side-swiping at those in positions of responsibility didn't amount to much if one never had to make political decisions oneself. And despite the self-deprecating indignities of the trawling campaign trail recounted here, Johnson clearly has no regrets in taking up the challenge. The book chronicles his failures and successes over the course of two general elections: from humiliating failure in Clwyd South to glorious victory in Henley-upon-Thames. There are many hilarious episodes: his rivalry with golden boy "Hezza", the unforgivable incident at the village jumble sale and the time when, out running in the rain, he is stopped by several young men who call him a c**t. He turns on them, rather pitifully protesting that "things are bad enough, and now you call me a c**t--why do you say that?" only to be met with the simple, arm-round-shoulder response: "face the fact that you're a c**t". Such is life in the public eye as one of the representatives of a great democracy. A light and delightful romp, this is a thoroughly enjoyable eye-opener for anyone who's ever wondered what it's like to get into politics and why on earth people do it. --Rebecca Johnson

Daily Mail
Ideal for reading in the bath... it will produce page after page of smiles.

Sunday Times
If you ever wondered whether you might like a stab at parliament , read this book.

Customer Reviews

Great fun! - even if you're not a Tory!
This isn't the kind of book I'd normally read - but it was passed to me at a BookCrossing meet in Shropshire. Naturally I couldn't resist, and had to bring it back with me to Oxfordshire!

I loved it! It is so funny...and probably loved it all the more because I knew the places he mentioned and even some of the people in Henley on Thames where he won his seat.

Read it even if you disagree with his politics - it's such an enjoyable read, I was laughing out loud on the train!

He's just a soul whose intentions are good ....
Oh Lord, please don't let him be misunderstood. Poor old Boris. He's an honest and straight-forward sort of chap - just says what he thinks and never mind the consequences. What consequences? The consequences that never seem to occur to him until it's pointed out to him that he's put his foot in it again. He's just a simple, harmless graduate of the Bertie Wooster Academy of Bumbling Buffoonery. That's how the Millwall supporters come to be armed with the ostensibly innocuous chant: "There's only one Boris Johnson" with which to taunt Liverpool supporters. You may not know what the Millwall supporters are getting at but you know Boris must have made another inadvertent gaff and somehow managed to alienate, in all probability, the entire population of Liverpool. Oh dear.

Here's a book about his campaign to be the Conservative MP for Henley, that will provide a few insights and perhaps persuade some doubters that Boris is really quite a charming and amiable sort. After all, just think how unpopular you or any of us would be if we didn't censor some the things we think before blurting them out in public. That seems to be Boris's main problem. He must imagine that everybody shares his sense of humour. Clearly he's mistaken. I think he's very funny but a lot of people think he's offensive. Here's an example from the book: He was completely put off his stroke "by some Luddite barracking from the member for Glasgow Pollock. In case you can't place him, he is almost totally bald, giving him a curiously buttock-headed appearance". Very funny. He's managed to outrage a lot of bald people and their wives, children and friends. Did it occur to him that a fair number of his constituents - the people who voted for him might fail to see the humour in that remark? Of course not. And in any case he can't resist trying to be funny. He's just a big kid really. I can't help liking him - but then he hasn't managed to insult me .... yet.

I recommend this book, but only to those who share Boris's sense of humour. It's an easy read. I learned some interesting things about political campaigning and what it's like to be an MP. I have the impression that you have to be hard or mad to harbour any such ambition. I read most of the book with a smile on my face, even though I don't agree with him on a lot of issues. If you already dislike his style and don't appreciate his sense of humour be warned, this is more of the same: classic Boris.

Less a narrative, more an informal manifesto
I bought this book after reading its other customer reviews on Amazon, and I looked forward to reading an honest and funny account of Boris Johnsons's parliamentary campaign trail. I was however disappointed.

Johnson gives far more time to his own political opinions than the story of his election campaign, and the events he does relate do not make a very gripping read. A visit to an old people's home leads to a discussion of pensions and how the elderly are treated; Boris's thoughts on education follow a visit to a school; and so on.

Those who find Boris funny on TV will know that a lot of the laughs are at his own expense, rather than his wit. Although he comes across as a good, affable man in 'Friends, Voters...', he is rarely witty. His laid back style results in a lack of energy or urgency.

Boris is of course still in office, and is in no position to really speak honestly about his motivations, his party or his opponents. He must maintain his image as a public servant. This is perhaps another reason why the book lacks bite.

I think I noticed too late that all of the positive comments on the sleeve come from Tory papers. If you aren't an enthusiastic Conservative, then you'll probably find a lot of the opinions expressed here quite irritating - if you aren't interested in politics generally, then you'll probably find them quite dull as well.