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Making the Weather: Six Politicians Who Changed Modern Britain
A study of six prominent postwar politicians in the United Kingdom.
Making the Weather is the story of six postwar politicians, all of whom exerted an outsized influence on the political life of the United Kingdom—an influence greater than that of most prime ministers. Vernon Bogdanor’s cast includes three from the political Left—Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, Roy Jenkins, and Tony Benn—and three from the Right—Enoch Powell, Keith Joseph, and Nigel Farage. Each study is a fascinating analysis examining how these men achieved such prominence and influence and how, though very different figures in many ways, they came to dominate the political landscape, often for years.
Each of the six made fundamental contributions to the debate about Britain’s future and to the vibrancy of British democracy. From immigration to Europe, from the National Health Service to devolution, the issues and causes that brought these men to prominence are still relevant.
Making the Weather is the story of six postwar politicians, all of whom exerted an outsized influence on the political life of the United Kingdom—an influence greater than that of most prime ministers. Vernon Bogdanor’s cast includes three from the political Left—Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, Roy Jenkins, and Tony Benn—and three from the Right—Enoch Powell, Keith Joseph, and Nigel Farage. Each study is a fascinating analysis examining how these men achieved such prominence and influence and how, though very different figures in many ways, they came to dominate the political landscape, often for years.
Each of the six made fundamental contributions to the debate about Britain’s future and to the vibrancy of British democracy. From immigration to Europe, from the National Health Service to devolution, the issues and causes that brought these men to prominence are still relevant.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published March 22, 2025
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About the author
Vernon Bogdanor
55 books12 followersOne of Britain's foremost constitutional experts, Vernon Bernard Bogdanor is research professor at the Institute for Contemporary British History at King's College London and professor of politics at the New College of the Humanities. He is also emeritus professor of politics and government at the University of Oxford and an emeritus fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 21, 2025
Fantastic book. Bogdanor combines intriguing storytelling with academic rigour, informing the reader who is compelled to turn the page and find out the next aspect of the lives of 6 thrilling yet relatively under-the-radar (except Farage) politicians. Couldn't recommend any more.
September 15, 2024
Fascinating book and a different lens to look at who influences policy, and why. Fascinating to learn more about those six men, all of whom were so different. And yes, their influence has been far-reaching. Bevan, Powell, Jenkins, Joseph, Benn and Farage may not be the most popular or even most well-known politicians of their age, but their profound impact on Britain today can not be under-estimated.
You need to love politics and political theory to enjoy this. Bogdanor includes much detail and is very thorough. Not for the faint-hearted!
You need to love politics and political theory to enjoy this. Bogdanor includes much detail and is very thorough. Not for the faint-hearted!
January 31, 2025
Page-turning assessment of 6 politicians battling for the hearts and minds of post-war United Kingdom. Compelling argument about these six making the weather through being teachers instead of leaders in office. I like Joseph more than I thought I would, am vaguely let down by Bevan. Opinion on farage unchanged.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews