Off Message: The Complete Antidote to Political Humbug

by Bob Marshall-Andrews

Bob Marshall-Andrews looks at the sombre events of the last thirteen years including wars in Kosovo and Iraq, sustained assaults on ancient English liberties, and the worst scandal of recent political history. He reveals the stories that lie behind them and the Westminster dramas of intrigue, triumph and disaster. He describes the delights and trials of his work as constituency MP and examines his own and others' motives for entering should the ambition, he asks, be to achieve power or to control it. Bob Marshall-Andrews breathes new life into the old values of libertarian socialism. Off Message is as provocative and entertaining as its author's campaigns and interventions.

Genres: Politics

273 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jonny Brick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great political memoir because: a) it's short, b) the author has a hinterland, c) he makes arguments against New Labour's fetishisation of civil liberties and WMDs, d) he structures it well and e) there's plenty of personality.

[Thom Kirkwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still very informative and insightful, but comes across as much more smug then I realised when I first read it several years ago.

[Dr Andrew Al-Adwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into the Blair government, his personal ignorance and gross psychopathy.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

No longer so relevant politically because it was written in 2011 but it is good as a picture of what changes were happening regarding civil rights etc during the Blair and Brown government years.

[Peter K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by the Labour MP for Medway since 1997 this is a principled and well argued book from a backbench Labour MP who found much to fight against in the manner of Tony Blair’s Premiership, particularly the prosecution of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Even at relatively recent historical distance this is a welcome review of how those wars came to pass and how the conduct of the Government looks more highly suspect with careful consideration.

Both detailed and general, this is a good book and the personality of the author leaps off the page and manages to successfully combine a small amount of autobiographical reflection with a review of the political happenings of the time.

[David Medcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent insight into British Politics from a man of principle who declined to be told what he should think. I wish I had been more aware of Mr Marshall-Andrews when he was still in politics - I only saw him as he was labelled by the Labour hierarchy "a troublemaker". In fact he was an intelligent, articulate and honourable man, fighting to preserve the integrity of Britain and to preserve the hard won freedoms of its people.
He would have had my vote!

[Jane Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one would expect, this memoir is witty and very readable. It's also serious. He focusses on those aspects of the last government which drove him to rebel so often, notably civil liberties and Blair's wars. He loathed Blair. He has little to say about Brown's time as PM. I enjoyed the book, but would have liked it to cover more ground.

[David Bernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous read. Racy, irreverent, rumbustuous. Devastating critique of T Blair and all he stood for. Shows the whole New Labour project for the fraudulent con it always was.....

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and amusing political memoir.