Downing Street Downfalls - by Mark Garnett (Hardcover)

About the Book

Before Johnson's rollercoaster ride, and the ensuing "blink and you missed it" premiership of Truss, the high wastage-rate among Britain's prime ministers was becoming a cause for concern. This book examines 30 years of prime ministerial misadventures to answer why 10 Downing Street has become a revolving door.

Book Synopsis

Even before Boris Johnson's rollercoaster ride (2019-22), and the ensuing "blink and you missed it" premiership of Liz Truss, the high wastage-rate among Britain's prime ministers was becoming a cause for concern. Between 1979 and 2007 Britain had just three heads of government: Margaret Thatcher (1979-90), John Major (1990-97) and Tony Blair (1997-2007). Over the next 17 years six politicians followed them in and out of Downing Street.

This book, which straddles more than 30 years of prime ministerial misadventures, poses questions about the underlying factors as well as the specific circumstances for individual departures. Is the role of prime minister just becoming too difficult to perform successfully? If so, why? Has there been a decline in calibre in the candidates holding office? In exploring how the famous entrance to number 10 Downing Street has become a revolving door, the book shines a fresh light on the nature of politics and political office in the UK today.

Review Quotes

Few people know more about postwar British politics than Mark Garnett.--Iain Dale, writer and broadcaster

Garnett combines intelligent and scholarly insights, analogies with Greek mythology and razor-sharp wit and satire ... absolutely brilliant!--Peter Dorey, Professor of British Politics, Cardiff University

Remember that you are mortal, slaves in ancient Rome would tell victorious generals. Downing Street Downfalls shows that the same is true of prime ministers, and in doing so provides a penetrating and acerbic analysis of recent British politics.--Sir Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government, King's College, London

Rigorous research, insightful analysis and brilliant writing are the hallmarks of this book. For those seeking a pithy but scholarly understanding of what ended British premierships from Thatcher to Sunak, Mark Garnett is an invaluable guide. His combination of academic thoroughness and good-humoured prose is special.--John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, 2009-19

About the Author

Mark Garnett is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Lancaster University. He has written widely on Brtitish politics, in particular the relationship between ideas and practice. His books on the Conservative Party include acclaimed biographies of Tory grandees, Keith Joseph and Willie Whitelaw.