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In the Thick of It

The Private Diaries of a Minister

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About this listen

 ‘Sensational … One of the most explosive political diaries ever to be published … As candid, caustic and colourful as the sensational Alan Clark Diaries of the 1990s’ DAILY MAIL The Sunday Times bestseller

As Minister of State at the Foreign Office, Alan Duncan was once described as Boris Johnson’s ‘pooper-scooper’. For two years, he deputised for the then Foreign Secretary, now Prime Minister. Few are more attuned to Boris’s strengths and weaknesses as a minister and his suitability for high office than the man who helped clear up his mistakes.

Riotously candid, these diaries cover the most turbulent period in recent British political history – from the eve of the referendum in 2016 to the UK’s eventual exit from the EU. As two prime ministers fall, two general elections unfold and a no-confidence vote is survived, Duncan records a treasure-trove of insider gossip, giving biting and often hilarious accounts of petty rivalries, poor decision-making, big egos, and big crises.

Nothing escapes Alan’s acerbic gaze. Across these unfiltered daily entries, he builds a revealing and often profound picture of UK politics and personalities. A rich seam of high politics and low intrigue, this is an account from deep inside the engine room of power.

 Diaries & Journals Elections & Political Process Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Funny Witty United Kingdom Middle East

Critic reviews

‘Sensational … Johnson’s Cabinet [has been] rocked … It is unprecedented for a politician to lift the lid on feuding in the corridors of power so soon after leaving office … One of the most explosive political diaries ever to be published … Candid, caustic and colourful … In the style of great political diaries like those by Clark or Chips Channon that capture the spirit of the age. The political memoir of the year’
Daily Mail

‘More than merely bracingly readable … Duncan chronicles the despair, bafflement, plotting and rising acrimony’
The Times

‘In the Thick of It initially grabbed the headlines thanks to the sheer gleeful bitchiness of the insults littered throughout. But there’s a more serious message at the heart of this book … Duncan frankly has a point; that after four years of purging remain supporters from the Tory ranks, what’s left is hardly a government of titans’
Gaby Hinscliff, Guardian

‘Thoughtful and nuanced … Alan’s insights into the role of a foreign office minister provide many of the highlights of the book. I am enjoying it immensely’
Iain Dale

‘A compelling compendium of high gossip and low intrigue, full of withering put-downs and waspish observations’
Rachel Sylvester, The Times

‘The diaries are thoughtful, but can be brutal. The book contains deep thought about Britain’s long-term foreign policy objectives, enlivened by highly amusing recollections’
Salma Shah, Spectator

‘Always witty, usually waspish and unremittingly withering about those for whom he does not care … Closely observed, perceptive, amusing … They are fascinating; they are riveting’
Christopher Pincher, The Critic

‘One of the most sensational, no-holds-barred political diaries of the decade’
Tatler

‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Alan Duncan’s incendiary diaries, in which he buries more bodies than a Mafia undertaker’
Piers Morgan

'Hugely entertaining'
John Humphrys

All stars
Most relevant
Could not put it down. Very amusing insight into the workings of the government. Presented well by the author an all in all must read and should be classed as a comical none fiction!

Brilliant

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Not the best political/personal diary out there ( in no way competes with Tony Benns) but a cracking insight into the Tory party from a middling performer,

From the middle Alan Duncan gets the rare opportunity to see the wood from the trees and rarely if ever toes the party line ( maybe this is why he never summiteers the greasy pole) and you can’t help liking him for it

Hopefully Mr D will get a well earned peerage (let’s be honest he’d make a better go of it than some of the zombies in residence in the “other place” and the we can enjoy a second instalment of his diaries

Very enjoyable

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too long. should've been edited. lacked good anecdotes. was ok but length did not merit AD'S significance

far too long and indulgen

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This account records the final demise of the ‘sensibles’ - as Sir Alan calls them - within the Conservative Party in the House of Commons. The long demise started in 1992 and took 30 years to play out thanks to ever more members of the parliamentary party (and the party membership in the country) adopting the EU as the new villain to slay after the demise of the USSR. A sad lament for the current state of British politics. Also tells of the immense and gruelling travel commitment of a dedicated foreign office minister. Well done Sir Alan.

RIP Conservative Party

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A warning, unfortunately Duncan does not stop laughing at his own jokes, for the whole book, and it doesnt get any less annoying, although it does get more frequent.

What could have been an interesting diary from a B team politician is let down by his delusions of his importance being greater than it was. Oh, and did i mention he constantly laughs at his own jokes?

One other core flaw is the amount of time devoted to letting us know how well regarded and connected he is with various sheikhs, emiarti's and so forth in the middle east, whilst never once even attempting to resolve the fact that if he lived in their countries he would at best be arrested solely for his choice of partner, at worst beheaded. I would be genuinely interested to know how he feels about this, but alas it must have been left for a later edition.

Finally, and this is mostly a production gripe, you are supposed to edit out the slurping and swallowing at the end of sentences. Especially for those using headphones it is incredibly annoying. As is laughing at your own jokes.

A possibly interesting story ruined by pomposity.

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