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House of Fun: 20 Glorious Years in Parliament
House of Fun is a bumper collection of Simon Hoggart's finest and funniest sketches written since he took up the poisoned quill twenty years ago. It is instant history with added jokes.Read about how John Major learned the English language from his time in Nigeria. There is Tony Blair, with his verb-free sentences which imply everything and promise nothing. Gordon Brown, the grumpiest prime minister of recent years, both Stalin and Mr Bean. And now David Cameron - who really, really hates being drawn with a condom on his head.Let's not forget John Prescott, who can wrestle the English language to the mat and win by two falls to a submission, Michael Fabricant with his hairpiece stolen from the tail of a My Little Pony, Sir Peter Tapsell, a grandee so grand that when he rises to speak, Hansard writers are replaced by a crack team of monks to write up his words in illuminated lettering. Nick Clegg, with his default expression of a man's whose children's puppy is still missing. And of course, the famous 2010 press conference in the garden of Downing Street, a love-in that would have been illegal in 44 American states.This book will have you laughing, chuckling, roaring, sniggering, and sometimes despairing.
- GenresPoliticsNonfictionHumor
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 26, 2014
The twenty years of parliamentary sketches this book covers chimes with the period in my life when I held politicians in total disdain and could at least stomach hearing about their antics. Nowadays I hold them in lower regard and try to live in a politician free zone ignoring the boorish behaviour at every opportunity.
But the recent sad death of Simon Hoggart brought this book to mind.
A whole collection of his best writing which starts at the fag end of a tired Tory government run by John Major, through the genuine relief and excitement of a Tony Blair led Labour government, till that ran out of steam and the cycle started again with a coalition government that instantly looked tired.
There were many times I laughed out loud, countless times I smiled and pretty much remained amused throughout. Laughter really is the best medicine. There is a certain modern Wodehouse vibe going on without being heavy handed. This is not so much a comment on the writing style but the cast of characters.
I cannot imagine laughing at this latest tranche of politicians but perhaps with a bit of luck someone with Simon's skill and wit will rise to the occasion for future generations.
But the recent sad death of Simon Hoggart brought this book to mind.
A whole collection of his best writing which starts at the fag end of a tired Tory government run by John Major, through the genuine relief and excitement of a Tony Blair led Labour government, till that ran out of steam and the cycle started again with a coalition government that instantly looked tired.
There were many times I laughed out loud, countless times I smiled and pretty much remained amused throughout. Laughter really is the best medicine. There is a certain modern Wodehouse vibe going on without being heavy handed. This is not so much a comment on the writing style but the cast of characters.
I cannot imagine laughing at this latest tranche of politicians but perhaps with a bit of luck someone with Simon's skill and wit will rise to the occasion for future generations.
February 10, 2023
Very fun in 2023 to go back over the 1990s and 2000s and realise nothing has changed. Johnson was as media-savvy in 2010 as today, Tony Blair talked in verb-free sentences and the famous Mickey Fabb is a national treasure. A fine anthology with mockery evenly dispersed to all corners of both Houses.
June 5, 2026
Should be 2.5 stars but as he is no longer with us and not wanting to upset the dead, I’ve given him a 3 star.
January 7, 2016
The Guardian’s political sketchwriter for two decades, this collection of selected Hoggart pieces from 1993 to 2012 is great fun. With dozens of articles skewering Britain’s leading politicians in inventively lyrical ways, Hoggart’s work is usually both entertaining and informative.
True, some of these pieces should never have been included because they’re downright dull, or too fanciful but overall, it’s a strong collection. Helpfully, most of them have an introductory line or two setting them neatly in context – a great help when there are so many of them over such a long period. There's also an extensive index, which again, is more than welcome.
Reading the Kindle edition, I found myself highlighting a massive number of quotes and passages, either because they made me laugh, or because they so well-crafted, or because they just felt right. There’s a small (OK, there’s quite a few of ‘em) lightly edited sample below. Chances are, if you like these, this will be a book worth buying.
[1994] “If I were Mr [Tony] Blair, I would stop waving my arms around in an illustrative way. He is not presenting Blue Peter.”
[From the 1996 Labour Party conference] “… there were the lines of suits, the smart women’s outfits, the prosperous middle class of Britain who are now in the happy position of having both main parties dedicated to their continuing welfare.”
[On new Tory leader William Hague in 1997] “If he’s so young, why does he sound like an elderly house master in a minor public school?”
[In 1998, he wrote about Lord Chancellor, Derry Irvine and his expensively decorated apartment at the House of Lords, paid for by the taxpayer] “… as pompous as it is possible for a man to be without actually bursting… Irvine said ‘you are not talking about something down at the DIY store,’ though to our delight it turned out that he had never even heard of B & Q.”
[From the 1999 Tory Party conference] “John Redwood made his annual rabblesoothing speech. It must be hard to fail at a Tory conference by making an attack on Peter Mandelson, but the shadow trade secretary managed it.”
[On John Prescott handling PMQs for the absent Blair in 1999] “It was terrible. It was also ghastly, chaotic, miserable and floor-staringly, mouth-puckeringly, gaze-avertingly awful. In any civilised country a trained SAS squad would have abseiled down the Chamber walls, tossing smoke bombs, grabbing Mr Prescott and hustling him to safety.”
“… the Daily Mail, the newspaper for old women of both sexes.”
[In 2002, describing Iain Duncan Smith’s disastrous ‘leadership’ of his party] “Many Tories recalled with something less than fondness the 46 times IDS voted against the John Major government, or was it 47?... [one unnamed MP said] “That bastard was the most disloyal bastard of all the disloyal bastards John Major had to cope with. And do you know why? Because he’s a bastard!”
[In 2003, when Michael Howard replaced Duncan Smith] “There he was, along with Norman Lamont, a reminder of why people voted against them in 1997 and why they will take the earliest possible chance to vote against them again.”
[Again, on the peculiar Howard] “He speaks English as if it were a second language, taught by patient specialists so that even lawyers can understand.”
[On Tory leadership contender David Cameron, at the 2005 conference] “He has learned Ronald Reagan’s trick of being dementedly optimistic… they even loved him when he started raving, like a malaria victim who is at the point where he may live or die. ‘Let us dream a new generation of Conservative dreams!’ he said, which may be the most meaningless statement uttered at this conference so far.”
[On Cameron’s first PMQs appearance as leader of the opposition] “Prime minister’s questions is a horrible experience for anyone who might be described as a human being. Mr Cameron had one big advantage: most of his own side were actually on his side. For Tory leaders that is an unexpected help.”
[In 2007, Gordon Brown, as the only candidate, was preparing to become Labour leader]”Gordon Brown began his campaign in London yesterday. It will be a lonely business travelling around the country asking people not to vote for anyone else, since there is no one else. But he is a truculent chap and can easily pick a fight with himself.”
[In 2012, on Nick Clegg] “The deputy prime minister often gives the impression of a supply teacher out of his depth in a sink school.”
True, some of these pieces should never have been included because they’re downright dull, or too fanciful but overall, it’s a strong collection. Helpfully, most of them have an introductory line or two setting them neatly in context – a great help when there are so many of them over such a long period. There's also an extensive index, which again, is more than welcome.
Reading the Kindle edition, I found myself highlighting a massive number of quotes and passages, either because they made me laugh, or because they so well-crafted, or because they just felt right. There’s a small (OK, there’s quite a few of ‘em) lightly edited sample below. Chances are, if you like these, this will be a book worth buying.
[1994] “If I were Mr [Tony] Blair, I would stop waving my arms around in an illustrative way. He is not presenting Blue Peter.”
[From the 1996 Labour Party conference] “… there were the lines of suits, the smart women’s outfits, the prosperous middle class of Britain who are now in the happy position of having both main parties dedicated to their continuing welfare.”
[On new Tory leader William Hague in 1997] “If he’s so young, why does he sound like an elderly house master in a minor public school?”
[In 1998, he wrote about Lord Chancellor, Derry Irvine and his expensively decorated apartment at the House of Lords, paid for by the taxpayer] “… as pompous as it is possible for a man to be without actually bursting… Irvine said ‘you are not talking about something down at the DIY store,’ though to our delight it turned out that he had never even heard of B & Q.”
[From the 1999 Tory Party conference] “John Redwood made his annual rabblesoothing speech. It must be hard to fail at a Tory conference by making an attack on Peter Mandelson, but the shadow trade secretary managed it.”
[On John Prescott handling PMQs for the absent Blair in 1999] “It was terrible. It was also ghastly, chaotic, miserable and floor-staringly, mouth-puckeringly, gaze-avertingly awful. In any civilised country a trained SAS squad would have abseiled down the Chamber walls, tossing smoke bombs, grabbing Mr Prescott and hustling him to safety.”
“… the Daily Mail, the newspaper for old women of both sexes.”
[In 2002, describing Iain Duncan Smith’s disastrous ‘leadership’ of his party] “Many Tories recalled with something less than fondness the 46 times IDS voted against the John Major government, or was it 47?... [one unnamed MP said] “That bastard was the most disloyal bastard of all the disloyal bastards John Major had to cope with. And do you know why? Because he’s a bastard!”
[In 2003, when Michael Howard replaced Duncan Smith] “There he was, along with Norman Lamont, a reminder of why people voted against them in 1997 and why they will take the earliest possible chance to vote against them again.”
[Again, on the peculiar Howard] “He speaks English as if it were a second language, taught by patient specialists so that even lawyers can understand.”
[On Tory leadership contender David Cameron, at the 2005 conference] “He has learned Ronald Reagan’s trick of being dementedly optimistic… they even loved him when he started raving, like a malaria victim who is at the point where he may live or die. ‘Let us dream a new generation of Conservative dreams!’ he said, which may be the most meaningless statement uttered at this conference so far.”
[On Cameron’s first PMQs appearance as leader of the opposition] “Prime minister’s questions is a horrible experience for anyone who might be described as a human being. Mr Cameron had one big advantage: most of his own side were actually on his side. For Tory leaders that is an unexpected help.”
[In 2007, Gordon Brown, as the only candidate, was preparing to become Labour leader]”Gordon Brown began his campaign in London yesterday. It will be a lonely business travelling around the country asking people not to vote for anyone else, since there is no one else. But he is a truculent chap and can easily pick a fight with himself.”
[In 2012, on Nick Clegg] “The deputy prime minister often gives the impression of a supply teacher out of his depth in a sink school.”
September 13, 2015
An enjoyable read and a reminder of times and politicians both past and in some cases also forgotten.
The recent death of Simon Hoggart was sad, depriving us of such witty and humourous writing as this book provides.
This is a summary, a digest of 20 years of commons sketch writing and covers the period from John Major’s government right through the rise and fall of Tony Blair as PM, the entry into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that look more and more unbelievable as time moves on, the awkward and troubled premiership of Gordon Brown during the period that economic comfort was turned upside down and right upto date with the coalition government and its machinations.
A very good book to dip into and remember, amusing and witty and very sharp.
The recent death of Simon Hoggart was sad, depriving us of such witty and humourous writing as this book provides.
This is a summary, a digest of 20 years of commons sketch writing and covers the period from John Major’s government right through the rise and fall of Tony Blair as PM, the entry into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that look more and more unbelievable as time moves on, the awkward and troubled premiership of Gordon Brown during the period that economic comfort was turned upside down and right upto date with the coalition government and its machinations.
A very good book to dip into and remember, amusing and witty and very sharp.
March 2, 2016
Simon Hoggart's death robbed us of one of the funniest journalists writing in Britain. His parliamentary sketches were without doubt the funniest of that genre. This is his last collection. Most have been published before but worth re-reading. It makes me wish the Guardian would go back and publish his earlier sketches. He is sadly missed.
March 2, 2016
The late Simon Hoggart was one of the best Parliamentary Sketch writers. His work for the Observer and the Guardian was was always incisive and funny. That said, this collection is perhaps not the ideal representation of his work.
May 3, 2022
Great fun, a witty rundown of British politics. it's a pity the author isn't around to add more about the shenanigans of the current parliament.
April 5, 2015
Quite funny and a bit insightful into the world of politics, mostly the Commons.
June 27, 2015
Marvellous stuff. Not only was Hoggat an excellent sketch writer, but the book covers a 20-year period and recalls some largely forgotten politicians. Humour and history!
December 23, 2015
very humorous and insightful
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews