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The Intimacy of Power: An insight into private office, Whitehall's most sensitive network: Why Private Office Matters
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in the corridors of power during a major crisis or after a ministerial reshuffle? How do new government ministers get to grips with their portfolios and priorities? Who guides and supports them? And why, sometimes – during events such as 'Partygate' – do things go wrong?
In this meticulously researched book, former senior civil servant Alun Evans lifts the lid on a vital but little-known cog in the machinery of private office and the private secretaries who work within it.
Private secretaries exercise huge influence, and yet most of us have never heard of them. They are the ones who manage the flow of work, who whisper quietly in ministers' ears and who have been Prime Ministers' closest, most trusted and most discreet confidants. At critical moments in our national history – from the Falklands War to the Westland affair, from Black Wednesday to the 2008 financial crash, from New Labour to the coalition government – they have been central but hidden players.
With exceptional access to former Prime Ministers and decision-makers, Evans explores what private office is and why it matters to British democracy. He argues that following the egregious constitutional breaches of Boris Johnson's premiership, private office must once again be taken seriously so it can return to being the independent junction box of government and a vital part of the British constitution.
In this meticulously researched book, former senior civil servant Alun Evans lifts the lid on a vital but little-known cog in the machinery of private office and the private secretaries who work within it.
Private secretaries exercise huge influence, and yet most of us have never heard of them. They are the ones who manage the flow of work, who whisper quietly in ministers' ears and who have been Prime Ministers' closest, most trusted and most discreet confidants. At critical moments in our national history – from the Falklands War to the Westland affair, from Black Wednesday to the 2008 financial crash, from New Labour to the coalition government – they have been central but hidden players.
With exceptional access to former Prime Ministers and decision-makers, Evans explores what private office is and why it matters to British democracy. He argues that following the egregious constitutional breaches of Boris Johnson's premiership, private office must once again be taken seriously so it can return to being the independent junction box of government and a vital part of the British constitution.
555 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2024
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August 2, 2024
This is a worthy and well structured examination of the role of the Ministerial Private Office in the UK governmental structure. It is based on a PhD thesis and thus has the careful, signposting style of a good thesis. It is academically rigorous but not overburdened in that regard. So the generalist reader will be able to engage with it, although I suspect that the book will be of greater appeal to students of politics and government. The evidence base is extensive.
Although the book says that it is looking at the Whitehall Private Office, it is mostly about the Prime Minister's private office. In that respect, it does not give any new revelations for those who are familiar with recent British political history. The accounts of the Private Offices of Wilson, Thatcher and Blair are well known, and those who have read, for example, the works of Anthony Seldon and Charles Moore (on PMs generally and Baroness Thatcher respectively), will not be surprised at this account.
I think that Alun Evans misses a trick by not exploring further in his general analysis, the necessary qualities of a private office working effectively with its department and its "stakeholders" to enable them to support Ministers. By focusing on "No. 10", the book looks at relations upwards and across, not downwards.
Apart from that, and the need for some tightening of the book (e.g. there is some repetition e.g. several explanations of the French "Cabinet" model), I recommend this book to those who are interested in the role and potential benefit of a well functioning Prime Ministerial private office.
Although the book says that it is looking at the Whitehall Private Office, it is mostly about the Prime Minister's private office. In that respect, it does not give any new revelations for those who are familiar with recent British political history. The accounts of the Private Offices of Wilson, Thatcher and Blair are well known, and those who have read, for example, the works of Anthony Seldon and Charles Moore (on PMs generally and Baroness Thatcher respectively), will not be surprised at this account.
I think that Alun Evans misses a trick by not exploring further in his general analysis, the necessary qualities of a private office working effectively with its department and its "stakeholders" to enable them to support Ministers. By focusing on "No. 10", the book looks at relations upwards and across, not downwards.
Apart from that, and the need for some tightening of the book (e.g. there is some repetition e.g. several explanations of the French "Cabinet" model), I recommend this book to those who are interested in the role and potential benefit of a well functioning Prime Ministerial private office.
Displaying 1 of 1 review