Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors: 50 Places That Changed British Politics

by Matt Chorley

‘’F *** ing brilliant. I would describe it as like a bag of political nuts – moreish and fabulously salty’ JOE LYCETT

A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors is an entertaining and original romp through the highs and lows of British political history and the unlikely locations that have decided our national fate.

Forget Westminster bust-ups and PMQs, some of the key events that have shaped modern British politics happened not in the cloisters of parliament or Downing Street’s many corridors of power, but in car parks, village halls and seaside resorts where the mundane have played host to the mighty. From Pitt the Younger’s Putney Heath duel to finding Margaret Thatcher a voice coach on a train, Harold Wilson’s ‘Scilly’ season holidays to John Major’s dental appointment clearing his path to No10 – these (and many more) are the places where chance meetings, untimely deaths and snap, sometimes daft, decisions changed the course of politics.

Matt Chorley has spent almost two decades covering Westminster, interviewing prime ministers, mocking ministers and chronicling the serious, and sometimes unintentionally absurd, events which act as unlikely turning points in the direction of a nation. Illustrated by award-winning political cartoonist Morten Morland, Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors combines Matt’s insider-knowledge, smart analysis and detailed research with his background in comedy to create an hilarious history of how politics actually happens.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, British Literature

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2023

Reviews

[Brian Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Chorley is one of the best political radio presenters and podcasters around. His coverage of UK politics is sharp and insightful - but always with a sense of humour. He is also a newspaper columnist, though I confess I find his writing style there sometimes too farcical - but that doesn't apply to this book, which takes in '50 places that changed British Politics'. Although there is humour here (quite strong, for instance, on the infamous venture to Barnard Castle), this is primarily a serious look beyond Westminster at a series of key events in often unexpected locations around the country.

Some are small but significant, such as Gordon Brown getting locked in a toilet. Others involve an event that would change history more directly (or even personally, in the story of Spencer Perceval, the only UK prime minister to be assassinated). Although many of the events were familiar to me as someone with an interest in politics, there was a lot that I never knew - and the whole presents a fascinating insight into the quirks and oddities of our political history.

I was recommended this book by Peter Mandelson (not personally, I hasten to add, but on another excellent podcast hosted by Chorley), and I'm glad I took up his suggestion. It may be (dull sounding) political history, but it's never heavy and very enjoyable. The icing on the cake, which I am sure the author enjoyed, is that at the time of writing, Amazon had it listed as '#2 most gifted in toilet training.'

[Evan Micheals · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this a forgettable book that I did not connect with. I listened as an audio book and found Matt Chorley’s voice irritating. The book was weighted heavily for stories over the past twenty years (since I left the UK). My impression was this was telling the story of how the UK becomes smaller and less relevant on the international stage with time. Britain’s decline is a symptom of the decline of the West. Civilisations die more often from suicide, than murder. Britain seems to have lost faith mostly in its self and we can no longer expect the out sized contribution to the world that it once gave.

[Harry Parkhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice framing device to tell some familiar (and some new) political tales. Chorley’s gift is being able to tell even the stories you’ve heard before in a genuinely funny way - so even the familiar stories were a pleasure to read.

Also a great book to pick up and put down with large gaps between sessions because of its bite size format.

[Liz]

I expected it to be funnier.
It also seemed very bitty, but then the title should have suggested it would be like that.

[Christopher Vowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and digestible political nerdery.

[Simon Burdus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched and interesting book. Not as funny as billed but still enjoyable. Some of the ways the stories are linked to places are a bit tenuous.

[Connor Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the premise became tenuous in places, but this is an engagingly written political history which is fun to read.

[Ian Wauchope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny
Insightful
Well written
Informative

[Christine Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read

[Ricky Balas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun introduction to the quirkiness of the British political system.

[Hannah Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 4 - good book to dip in and out of

[David Atherton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very witty but politically accurate. Love Matt's work.

[Graeme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learnt a good deal about how “happenstance” has a part to play in British politics. Well read audio book.

[Noa Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but mostly forgettable