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The Prime Ministers We Never Had

Success and Failure from Butler to Corbyn

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The Prime Ministers We Never Had

By: Steve Richards
Narrated by: Steve Richards
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About this listen

Was Harold Wilson a bigger figure than Denis Healey? Was John Major more ‘prime ministerial’ than Michael Heseltine? Would David Miliband have become prime minister if it were not for his brother, Ed? Would Ed have become prime minister if it were not for David? How close did Jeremy Corbyn come to being prime minister?

In this piercing and original study, journalist and commentator Steve Richards looks at 11 prime ministers we never had, examining what made each of these illustrious figures unique and why they failed to make the final leap to the very top. Combining astute insights into the demands of leadership with compelling historical analysis, this fascinating exploration of failure and success sheds new light on some of the most compelling characters in British public life.

©2021 Steve Richards (P)2021 W F Howes Elections & Political Process Europe Great Britain Leadership Management & Leadership Political Science Politics & Government World

Critic reviews

“Britain's unusually capricious system of selecting its prime ministers means some very gifted leaders have been left on the shelf. There is no one better qualified than Steve Richards to blow away the cobwebs, and to tell us which of them might have made better prime ministers than the rum lot we sometimes got.” (Sir Anthony Seldon, author of The Impossible Office)

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Steve Richards is a very knowledgeable and articulate writer who knew these politicians personally. I had highly enjoyed his previous book on the Prime Ministers, now he deals with all the hopefuls from Heseltine to Benn and why they failed to climb to the top of the greasy pole. He gives great insights throughout the book, mixes in a bit of gossip and reminds you of the key moments such as leaving the ERM or Labour's perceived anti-Semitism. He details 10 "wannabes from Rab Butler to Jeremy Corbyn and forensically examines why they didn't get to fulfil their ambition to govern the country. There is no political bias here. He examines their chances, what went wrong, what they lacked and considers how some of them might have steered Britain in better directions than those who got to fill the top job, managed. My favourite line in the whole book is when Ed Miliband looking back says he was amazed by how devastated his brother David was by his treachery in standing against him and winning.
Any lover of Politics should read Steve Richards. Highly recommended.

An excellent review of the losing candidates

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Very thoughtful and insightful, giving a worthwhile glimpse into British politics.It does perhaps also leave questions about why people enter the fray in the first place.

Superb

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Avoids being too speculative or partisan as to what might have been, but gives informative barkground and context to explain these key figures' political journeys to be considered possible PMs. A useful inight into UK politics.

Informative and inightful

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This is an exceptionally good account of some of the real giants of UK politics who came close to but never made the top chair. The experience was made all the better because the author chose to read the book himself - always a plus. Majestic in every way especially up to and including Kinnock on the Labour side. I fear, in his own inimitable way, the author had been far too generous to the Milibands and Corbyn and their respective dilettantism. Very good throughout on the machinations within the Tories and the roles played by their ‘PMs that never were’. Overall a masterpiece that ranks with A.J.P. Taylor in full flow on the origins of the 2WW - with all the perception, insight and analysis that implies.

Majestic tale of splendid failure - but failure nonetheless.

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I found this one of the best politics books I've listened to or read in the last few years. I'm predisposed to agree with Steve Richards assessments of Prime Minister's we have had (another audio) and the Prime Minister's we've never had (this audio)

it's very well read. Chapters link with one another. It seems balanced and fair

Highly recommended.

Highly recommended. Fascinating history, intelligent informative

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