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Pelican Books #7
Who Governs Britain?
The British system has been radically transformed in recent decades, far more than most of us realise. As acclaimed political scientist and bestselling author Anthony King shows, this transformation lies at the heart of British politics today. Imagining - or pretending - that the British political system and Britain's place in the world have not greatly changed, our political leaders consistently promise more than they can perform. Political and economic power is now widely dispersed both inside and outside the UK, but Westminster politicians still talk the language of Attlee and Churchill. How exactly has the British system changed? Where does power now lie? In Who Governs Britain?, King offers the first assessment in many years of Britain's governing arrangements as a whole, providing much needed context for the 2015 general election.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 9, 2015
35 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
About the author
Anthony King
23 books6 followersAnthony King was a Millennium Professor of British Government at the University of Essex. He broadcasted frequently on politics and elections for the BBC and wrote on the same subjects for the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and the Observer.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 26, 2020
I'll put my hands up and say that despite being interested in political issues and debate, I know (knew?) very little about the actual history and structure of politics. This book appealed to me as a good place to start.
Reading this book, I can't tell what the author's own political allegiances are. He takes a neutral stance and tells us about the system. I liked this. Often, a bias or agenda seeps into political writing and makes it hard to trust the information given. This was a book set out to outline the structure of the British political system and it's shortcomings.
The chapter on the press was particularly scary. In a world of social media, I sometimes forget how easy it is to dismiss the malign influence that the tabloids still have. It was presented in a way here in a way that really brought the issue to life.
Professor King's voice seems to be one of compromise; he champions utilising people's individual experience and skill sets when making policy and selecting ministers, he advocates a less oppositional approach to government (I.e. parties working together rather than against each other on issues that don't involve core ideology) and points out that countries that are not in the EU aren't necessarily any less constrained by it, but don't get a say in the policy that is agreed.
An interesting read; concise and impartial.
Reading this book, I can't tell what the author's own political allegiances are. He takes a neutral stance and tells us about the system. I liked this. Often, a bias or agenda seeps into political writing and makes it hard to trust the information given. This was a book set out to outline the structure of the British political system and it's shortcomings.
The chapter on the press was particularly scary. In a world of social media, I sometimes forget how easy it is to dismiss the malign influence that the tabloids still have. It was presented in a way here in a way that really brought the issue to life.
Professor King's voice seems to be one of compromise; he champions utilising people's individual experience and skill sets when making policy and selecting ministers, he advocates a less oppositional approach to government (I.e. parties working together rather than against each other on issues that don't involve core ideology) and points out that countries that are not in the EU aren't necessarily any less constrained by it, but don't get a say in the policy that is agreed.
An interesting read; concise and impartial.
April 19, 2022
“Members of the professional and business classes totally dominate British politics today; and, merely by looking at them or listening to them, it is often impossible to tell Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians apart.”
This is the second one of these Pelican introductions I have come across recently and I have to say I am a big fan. This is a lively and engaging read, which covers a good bit of ground without over extending itself or the reader. King writes in a clear, informed and accessible way, showing a deep and wide knowledge but without over egging the pudding with any nonsense.
“Selection by the few was more important than election by the many.”
January 2, 2022
An accessible and humourous introduction to the changing structures and culture of the British political system.
Spanning 1945- 2015 King shows how 'the rules of the game have changed, but Britain's political players play on regardless, as through nothing has happened.'
Despite what once appeared to be a highly centralised system of governance, no one person or one party governs Britain. If one thing has remained constant it is the fundamental fact that foreign actors govern Britain as much as the Britain govern Britain.
The commentary on both the media and judges, although written in 2015, holds significance arguing that if the position of the courts has become controversial, it is overwhelmingly because parliament has invited judges to make controversial decisions.
An additional section on the constitutional shake-up of the late 20th Century focusing on the devolved institutions would be welcome. I would like to see an updated version following from King's call for a more consensual form of governance in the wake of developments since 2015.
Spanning 1945- 2015 King shows how 'the rules of the game have changed, but Britain's political players play on regardless, as through nothing has happened.'
Despite what once appeared to be a highly centralised system of governance, no one person or one party governs Britain. If one thing has remained constant it is the fundamental fact that foreign actors govern Britain as much as the Britain govern Britain.
The commentary on both the media and judges, although written in 2015, holds significance arguing that if the position of the courts has become controversial, it is overwhelmingly because parliament has invited judges to make controversial decisions.
An additional section on the constitutional shake-up of the late 20th Century focusing on the devolved institutions would be welcome. I would like to see an updated version following from King's call for a more consensual form of governance in the wake of developments since 2015.
October 20, 2025
This book was published a decade ago, so feels a bit outdated but is still informative. Fairly prescient on the constitutional wrangling around Article 50 and the negotiations around exiting the European Union. Few of these issues highlighted here seem to have improved in any way in the last 10 years.
November 8, 2016
Започнах да чета тази книга около седмица преди референдума относно членството на Обединеното кралство в Европейския съюз, когато все още само разни несериозни публикации използваха думата “Брекзит”. Ех, какви времена бяха. Заглавието ѝ звучи сякаш авторът има за цел да убеждава читателите си в наличието на дълбока конспирация, но книгата съвсем не представлява това. Who Governs Britain? е по-скоро учебник, ако в учебниците беше прието да се усеща отношението на автора и ако бяха само по 300 странички джобен формат.
Пристрастният глас на Антъни Кинг е осезаем най-вече в моментите, в които става въпрос за класовата принадлежност на политиците. Надълго и нашироко се разказва как преди седемдесетте години повечето членове на парламента са имали опит в трудови сфери, различни от политиката, а от деветдесетте години насам почти всички са „кариерни политици“, чието образование е свързано със словото (най-вече право и журналистика). Кинг обръща внимание как в днешно време всички политици имат висше образование и говорят с един и същи акцент (ох тези британци) и критиката му е съвсем оправдана, но четена от гражданин на страна, чийто министър-председател преди политическата си кариера е бил пожарникар (бодигард?), е също така доста забавна.
В други моменти пък авторът звучи изцяло безпристрастен. В частта, в която става въпрос за управлението на Тачър, критикува едновременно и профсъюзите, и министър-председателя, така че накрая искрено не можех да кажа какво е личното му отношение към Маргарет Тачър.
Текстът е организиран в 13 глави за всеки отделен актьор или набор от актьори, които Антъни Кинг счита за основни при намирането на отговор на въпроса от заглавието. В главата Foreigners авторът определя океанския риболов, земеделието и миграцията като областите, в които „старото разделение между „вътрешна“ и „външна“ политика е като цяло заличено“ вследствие на международни споразумения и управлението на Европейския съюз. Книгата е от 2015 г., така че Кинг се спира по-подробно на ролята на ЕС в законодателството на Обединеното кралство и какви биха били последствията от евентуалното излизане от съюза. Авторът не си представя Великобритания да не остане в общия пазар и очаква тя да се озове в състоянието на Норвегия – принудена да ратифицира европейското законодателство, без да може да участва в неговото създаване.
От главата Partisans научих как във Великобритания кандидатите за парламента се издигат изцяло от местната партийна организация, без централната машина на партията да има контрол върху избора им. Тоест ако един вече избран член на парламента не се съобразява достатъчно с местните партийни активисти, които са го номинирали, то той може изобщо да не бъде номиниран на следващите избори: „Гласоподавателите не могат да гласуват за когото си искат. На практика могат да избират само измежду кандидатите, които са били номинирани от местните партийни организации.“ А партийните членове на Консерваторите са доста по-консервативни от лидерите на партията си. И по-евроскептични.
Главата Media съдържа възхитителното изречение „Политиците четат [националните вестници], макар и все по-малко други хора да го правят, [но] политиците вярват, че вижданията на вестниците имат влияние върху вижданията на гласоподавателите...“. Отделено е много внимание на връзката на Тони Блеър и следващите министър-председатели с Рупърт Мърдок в пасажи, които създадоха у мен дълбок дискомфорт.
Кинг се изказва много ласкаво за системата от непартийни държавни служители, чийто опит и съвестност са гръбнакът на управлението с тяхната грижа към ключовите детайли във всяка държавна програма или политика. Службата обаче според автора е в упадък през последните години, тъй като експертизата на служителите се цени все по-малко и този тип работа става все по-малко привлекателен за идеалистичните младежи.
Who Governs Britain? е обогатяваща книга. Многото информация в нея е систематизирана по такъв начин, че лесно да запомниш основните моменти, без да се чувстваш залят от неусвоимо знание. Кинг пише изключително разбираемо и е обективен през почти цялото време, което предизвиква очакване с нетърпение на редките случаи, в които си позволява да даде израз на личното си отношение.
Пристрастният глас на Антъни Кинг е осезаем най-вече в моментите, в които става въпрос за класовата принадлежност на политиците. Надълго и нашироко се разказва как преди седемдесетте години повечето членове на парламента са имали опит в трудови сфери, различни от политиката, а от деветдесетте години насам почти всички са „кариерни политици“, чието образование е свързано със словото (най-вече право и журналистика). Кинг обръща внимание как в днешно време всички политици имат висше образование и говорят с един и същи акцент (ох тези британци) и критиката му е съвсем оправдана, но четена от гражданин на страна, чийто министър-председател преди политическата си кариера е бил пожарникар (бодигард?), е също така доста забавна.
В други моменти пък авторът звучи изцяло безпристрастен. В частта, в която става въпрос за управлението на Тачър, критикува едновременно и профсъюзите, и министър-председателя, така че накрая искрено не можех да кажа какво е личното му отношение към Маргарет Тачър.
Текстът е организиран в 13 глави за всеки отделен актьор или набор от актьори, които Антъни Кинг счита за основни при намирането на отговор на въпроса от заглавието. В главата Foreigners авторът определя океанския риболов, земеделието и миграцията като областите, в които „старото разделение между „вътрешна“ и „външна“ политика е като цяло заличено“ вследствие на международни споразумения и управлението на Европейския съюз. Книгата е от 2015 г., така че Кинг се спира по-подробно на ролята на ЕС в законодателството на Обединеното кралство и какви биха били последствията от евентуалното излизане от съюза. Авторът не си представя Великобритания да не остане в общия пазар и очаква тя да се озове в състоянието на Норвегия – принудена да ратифицира европейското законодателство, без да може да участва в неговото създаване.
От главата Partisans научих как във Великобритания кандидатите за парламента се издигат изцяло от местната партийна организация, без централната машина на партията да има контрол върху избора им. Тоест ако един вече избран член на парламента не се съобразява достатъчно с местните партийни активисти, които са го номинирали, то той може изобщо да не бъде номиниран на следващите избори: „Гласоподавателите не могат да гласуват за когото си искат. На практика могат да избират само измежду кандидатите, които са били номинирани от местните партийни организации.“ А партийните членове на Консерваторите са доста по-консервативни от лидерите на партията си. И по-евроскептични.
Главата Media съдържа възхитителното изречение „Политиците четат [националните вестници], макар и все по-малко други хора да го правят, [но] политиците вярват, че вижданията на вестниците имат влияние върху вижданията на гласоподавателите...“. Отделено е много внимание на връзката на Тони Блеър и следващите министър-председатели с Рупърт Мърдок в пасажи, които създадоха у мен дълбок дискомфорт.
Кинг се изказва много ласкаво за системата от непартийни държавни служители, чийто опит и съвестност са гръбнакът на управлението с тяхната грижа към ключовите детайли във всяка държавна програма или политика. Службата обаче според автора е в упадък през последните години, тъй като експертизата на служителите се цени все по-малко и този тип работа става все по-малко привлекателен за идеалистичните младежи.
Who Governs Britain? е обогатяваща книга. Многото информация в нея е систематизирана по такъв начин, че лесно да запомниш основните моменти, без да се чувстваш залят от неусвоимо знание. Кинг пише изключително разбираемо и е обективен през почти цялото време, което предизвиква очакване с нетърпение на редките случаи, в които си позволява да даде израз на личното си отношение.
November 29, 2022
Prose: 2
Interesting Content: 3
Perspective Shift: 3
Comments:
This book is pretty much exactly as it looks and sounds. A fairly dry, but easy to read, essay on the governing of Britain.
Some of the content was interesting, and I am generally very interested in politics.
For someone that has no interest, then this book will be a bore. King (the author) makes no effort to make this book engaging for people that have no interest in the subject matter, and it seems to be very haphazardly structured (which King admits from the beginning).
So the book is only for people that have an interest in politics and power, and want to learn more about the inner workings. In that way, it’s a job done - not especially well or badly.
Summation:
Read this book to learn more about the UK’s governing institutions. Don’t expect anything more than that.
Interesting Content: 3
Perspective Shift: 3
Comments:
This book is pretty much exactly as it looks and sounds. A fairly dry, but easy to read, essay on the governing of Britain.
Some of the content was interesting, and I am generally very interested in politics.
For someone that has no interest, then this book will be a bore. King (the author) makes no effort to make this book engaging for people that have no interest in the subject matter, and it seems to be very haphazardly structured (which King admits from the beginning).
So the book is only for people that have an interest in politics and power, and want to learn more about the inner workings. In that way, it’s a job done - not especially well or badly.
Summation:
Read this book to learn more about the UK’s governing institutions. Don’t expect anything more than that.
June 8, 2015
Democratically elected ministers, whose original candidatures are selected by a minute group of political party activists, at the helm of their prime minister, assisted by their civil servants, constrained by the rule of law, bound by international treaties & agreements, and taking into account public opinions and myriad interests, pass laws and devise policies. The author is immensely humorous, so the text is never dry. He highlights the various weaknesses in the current Westminster system and advocates for a more Nordic approach as the rescue. Truly fascinating - five stars.
Want to read
April 13, 2015Reviewed by The Guardian (8 Apr 2015)
July 28, 2015
Incisive introduction, and brings out perfectly the rolling back of the nation state's powers before supranational political and economic entities..
July 21, 2015
Oh... so that's why we can't have nice things?
Very comprehensive, sharp and pretty much contains valid explanations on all the core aspects of the British political system.
Very comprehensive, sharp and pretty much contains valid explanations on all the core aspects of the British political system.
November 29, 2017
This book is not as anti-establishment as I had hoped for which might give a hint as to why I sought it out. On page 18 Aneuring Bevan is quoted as having said, "No amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seducation, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party... So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin." - Now these sentiments mirror my own, but I find myself at odds with not Tory's but Globalists, from Thatcher, through Blair and into the modern Conservative epoch we, the people, are at war with the pseudo-conservatives/Globalists, in my opinion. This is why I read this book, to gain insight into a power structure which is not thoroughly examined in the newspapers nor terrestrial television.
There is a very, very good chapter in the book on the role mainstream newspapers, particularly those run by the deviant Rupert Murdoch have played in shaping the political climate. It is not that the news empires fear the change of government, rather the government that fears the powers of the media. Quite chilling when you see it in its entirety.
Also, I found the chapter on judges and the judicial system revealing; just how much power has transferred from the ministers and MP's to the judicial especially given that our own Independence referendum was almost affected disproportionately by the judicial in spite of a democratic outcome.
In conclusion, I embarked on the reading of this book with half an idea that the governance of Britain is hamstrung by bureaucracy, by the ride of the managerial class. You only have to look, as I do with disgust and disdain at the antics in Parliament and Prime Ministers question time to understand how obnoxious and unrepresentative many of these buffoons are. The book is concise, easy to read and informative.
There is a very, very good chapter in the book on the role mainstream newspapers, particularly those run by the deviant Rupert Murdoch have played in shaping the political climate. It is not that the news empires fear the change of government, rather the government that fears the powers of the media. Quite chilling when you see it in its entirety.
Also, I found the chapter on judges and the judicial system revealing; just how much power has transferred from the ministers and MP's to the judicial especially given that our own Independence referendum was almost affected disproportionately by the judicial in spite of a democratic outcome.
In conclusion, I embarked on the reading of this book with half an idea that the governance of Britain is hamstrung by bureaucracy, by the ride of the managerial class. You only have to look, as I do with disgust and disdain at the antics in Parliament and Prime Ministers question time to understand how obnoxious and unrepresentative many of these buffoons are. The book is concise, easy to read and informative.
August 25, 2024
This book is a little disjointed, which means it can be put down between chapters for lengthy periods, but this disjointedness is a major feature of the government it describes. The chapters all provide some startling insights which are worthy of multiple readings, particularly as the overall view comes across clearly that the British way of doing things is a hot mess of privilege, short-termism, incompetence, self-serving, and entrenched nonsense. Not a pretty picture despite British politicians harping on about the “mother of all Parliaments”.
Notably, this is a pre-Brexit book. It certainly notes the possibility of Brexit (before that name had been coined) and makes clear that Brexit would be a particularly bad idea, as all the proposed solutions to the above problems were basically to be more European in approach, specifically to be more Scandinavian.
The happening of Brexit and the incredible increase in political incompetence and vituperative behaviour that has occurred as a result, culminating in the appalling spectacle of Truss becoming the shortest serving Prime Minister of all time, and leading to the potential annihilation of the Conservative Party as a political force due to internal divisions, certainly reinforce that all the insights in this book were on the money. By becoming more isolated and inward looking the incompetent political class has become worse and has imploded.
Sadly this means that the electorate becomes more and more disenfranchised from the political process and more vulnerable to the siren songs of fascism.
This is an important book as well as a good read, and I will reread it again in future, hence four stars.
Notably, this is a pre-Brexit book. It certainly notes the possibility of Brexit (before that name had been coined) and makes clear that Brexit would be a particularly bad idea, as all the proposed solutions to the above problems were basically to be more European in approach, specifically to be more Scandinavian.
The happening of Brexit and the incredible increase in political incompetence and vituperative behaviour that has occurred as a result, culminating in the appalling spectacle of Truss becoming the shortest serving Prime Minister of all time, and leading to the potential annihilation of the Conservative Party as a political force due to internal divisions, certainly reinforce that all the insights in this book were on the money. By becoming more isolated and inward looking the incompetent political class has become worse and has imploded.
Sadly this means that the electorate becomes more and more disenfranchised from the political process and more vulnerable to the siren songs of fascism.
This is an important book as well as a good read, and I will reread it again in future, hence four stars.
November 15, 2019
So a book that feels almost quaint by now, it is still an interesting overview of British politics post World War II, in fact the temporal limits are quite interesting and do take on a period that seems to be ended now, although the end point is not made explicit in the book as it happened after the publication. The volume covers governments from WWII all the way to David Cameron, stopping right before the Brexit referendum and the subsequent omnishambles. It feels like an almost quaint time, even with all the scandals and incompetence and corruption that the book does describe.
It's hard to tell King's politics from the book, although he doesn't seem to fit into the left or the right, probably some kind of Blairite, but with a clear lack of love for socialists or conservatives, so the kind of wishy-washy centrist that is actually quite good for the purposes of this book.
King structures the book around several areas of power in Britain, from Prime Ministers, to Ministers, to MPs to Judges and Foreign Governments and the Media. In the end he is quite good at showing that pretty much no-one governs Britain. It's all a sequence of pretty crappy compromises and more and more making decisions that will please everyone while in fact not being very effective, a side effect of a professionalization of politics as more and more MPs have no other profession and the importance of media image. It ends up giving some answers to British problems which involve making politics in the UK less adversarial and more consensual... that worked well!
It's hard to tell King's politics from the book, although he doesn't seem to fit into the left or the right, probably some kind of Blairite, but with a clear lack of love for socialists or conservatives, so the kind of wishy-washy centrist that is actually quite good for the purposes of this book.
King structures the book around several areas of power in Britain, from Prime Ministers, to Ministers, to MPs to Judges and Foreign Governments and the Media. In the end he is quite good at showing that pretty much no-one governs Britain. It's all a sequence of pretty crappy compromises and more and more making decisions that will please everyone while in fact not being very effective, a side effect of a professionalization of politics as more and more MPs have no other profession and the importance of media image. It ends up giving some answers to British problems which involve making politics in the UK less adversarial and more consensual... that worked well!
June 6, 2021
The problems with the UK government
There really should be a follow up to this book called "How do we fix this mess?".
This book, in only a few hundred pages, manages to concisely summarise the changes to the UK government in the past few decades.
Spoiler alert: there are some issues to say the least! The author concludes by suggesting some changes that could help, but also by reminding us that nobody is perfect and no system will be either.
Perhaps our is, as he states, better than many. However, we should surely set the bar higher than "could fo better".
As for the bias, it's not awful by any means but there is a consistent anti-EU tone that comes through in what is in most ways a fairly balanced book.
Worth a read for anyone interested in the UK and how it works in reality.
There really should be a follow up to this book called "How do we fix this mess?".
This book, in only a few hundred pages, manages to concisely summarise the changes to the UK government in the past few decades.
Spoiler alert: there are some issues to say the least! The author concludes by suggesting some changes that could help, but also by reminding us that nobody is perfect and no system will be either.
Perhaps our is, as he states, better than many. However, we should surely set the bar higher than "could fo better".
As for the bias, it's not awful by any means but there is a consistent anti-EU tone that comes through in what is in most ways a fairly balanced book.
Worth a read for anyone interested in the UK and how it works in reality.
November 25, 2021
A pithy overview of where power lies in Britain, with a focus on how this has changed 1945-2015. Touches on the main organs of government but also disparate factors such as global market influences, international treaties, judicial review and mass media.
Required reading for any A-level Politics student, though in places I found King’s analysis lacking in depth - particularly his chapter on political party members. There was also not much information on the influence of fringe parties - UKIP, for example, barely had a mention.
Overall, a good disinterested summary of where we are in Britain (or rather, where we were in pre-Brexit 2015), and I can only agree with King’s conclusion that Britain “could do better”.
Required reading for any A-level Politics student, though in places I found King’s analysis lacking in depth - particularly his chapter on political party members. There was also not much information on the influence of fringe parties - UKIP, for example, barely had a mention.
Overall, a good disinterested summary of where we are in Britain (or rather, where we were in pre-Brexit 2015), and I can only agree with King’s conclusion that Britain “could do better”.
October 23, 2023
Probably the best overview of British politics? Though quite dated by its publication before the EU referendum.
Public disaffection with politics is caused by over-claiming and under-delivering:
Over-claiming: Politicians are increasingly from narrow class of career politicians, with PR experience. Focus on communicating, fast action, being seen to do. Delivery/implementation is an after-thought.
Under-delivering: Quality of ministers decreasing - partly because political class not fit for governing. Though this isn't just about quality of politicians. It's also about power being highly dispersed amongst international orgs, parties, media, judge, devolved governments, financial markets etc in a way it wasn't before. Governing is more complex than ever and politicians' agency is more constrained.
Public disaffection with politics is caused by over-claiming and under-delivering:
Over-claiming: Politicians are increasingly from narrow class of career politicians, with PR experience. Focus on communicating, fast action, being seen to do. Delivery/implementation is an after-thought.
Under-delivering: Quality of ministers decreasing - partly because political class not fit for governing. Though this isn't just about quality of politicians. It's also about power being highly dispersed amongst international orgs, parties, media, judge, devolved governments, financial markets etc in a way it wasn't before. Governing is more complex than ever and politicians' agency is more constrained.
January 6, 2018
I found ‘Who Governs Britain?’ to be a refreshingly impartial and comprehensive take on all the different strands that affect UK politics.
As someone with an interest in politics but a self-confessed lack of knowledge, I now feel much better equipped to understand political situations and have a more reasonable approach to individuals, parties, and governments’ mistakes and misgivings.
Another excellent Pelican Introduction.
As someone with an interest in politics but a self-confessed lack of knowledge, I now feel much better equipped to understand political situations and have a more reasonable approach to individuals, parties, and governments’ mistakes and misgivings.
Another excellent Pelican Introduction.
July 13, 2017
Explains the significance of each group such as Foreigners, MPs, media and unions on how they influence the government in the UK. In the end, it shows that the UK is not as sovereign in determining its policies as it would have liked to believe. However, as this was published before Brexit, an update to this book should be in place.
March 30, 2025
For anyone (like me) who doesn’t really understand how the UK government works, this book is essential. Well written, I really liked it!
May 31, 2015
While Anthony King attempts to provide a central narrative argument that power is now defuse and nebulous in a way that is different from 'the past' - the examples used are self defeating and more often than not, simply untrue. The suggestion King makes that lay membership act as a central locus of power will come as a surprise to anyone who has attended what are now largely ceremonial party conferences. Elsewhere this slim volume manages to hit Michael-Foot-labour-party-history-cliché-bingo, suggesting that the bits of history King has decided to comment on have only resulted in uninspiring impressionistic commentary.
I'm not entirely sure who this book is aimed at, but if you want a collection of semi-formulated ideas stretched over 336 interminable pages you have come to the right place. Good luck, reader!
I'm not entirely sure who this book is aimed at, but if you want a collection of semi-formulated ideas stretched over 336 interminable pages you have come to the right place. Good luck, reader!
May 3, 2015
Very well written and thought provoking.
July 28, 2015
Very interesting book ... Very readable ... Investigates various groups/groupings at the centre of power within Britain ...
January 11, 2017
Really useful book - helped settle a few qualms. It is quite the introduction, so will follow the reading list he provides at the end.
February 5, 2017
Really interesting book, well explained. Need an up dated version post Brexit vote!
May 26, 2018
An interesting and perceptive read from Professor King, a long time fixture on television in the UK whenever an election occurs.
Written in 2011 / 2012 this book explains very well the different influences that affect the government and governance of the United Kingdom, the politicians, the press, the voters etc.
The book makes some very perceptive comments about the possibility of future changes that did in fact happen, particularly brexit. If only more people paid more attention....
Written in 2011 / 2012 this book explains very well the different influences that affect the government and governance of the United Kingdom, the politicians, the press, the voters etc.
The book makes some very perceptive comments about the possibility of future changes that did in fact happen, particularly brexit. If only more people paid more attention....
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