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Honourable Friends?: Parliament and the Fight for Change
Caroline Lucas is an outsider, inside, fighting for parliamentary reform and for the interests of her constituents. She is a politician with a radical mission and a clear vision of how change can be achieved. From the NHS to corporate tax evasion, from climate change to immigration, Honourable Friends? tells the story of 5 years in Westminster and offers bold and practical suggestions for a fairer British political system. It is a unique book by a unique politician and activist.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2015
60 people are currently reading
800 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Lucas
21 books22 followersCaroline Patricia Lucas is an English politician and member of the Green Party of England and Wales who has been the Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion since 2010, when she became the first Green MP in the House of Commons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 19, 2017
My politics, as some of you may have gathered from a few of my reviews, are that of a green. Here’s what Lucas defines them as:
“Green politics is deeply concerned with the places where we live: whether it is a one-bed flat or the entire planet, it is all part of our environment. It is also about how humanity can live in balance with our home the earth, and that is all humanity, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.”
For over a century Britain has been ruled by the same tired out political parties. For over a century no other new party has even so much as had a voice in parliament. In 2010 The Green Party of England and Whales finally broke through, making history, and gained a seat in the commons. The MP given the honour was Caroline Lucas and she still holds the seat today. It was time to shake up the old guard and address problems the other MPs were to short-sighted to recognise.
Indeed, the trouble with British politics, and perhaps all international politics, is its sheer inability to recognise and respond appropriately to the biggest issue the world faces: the environmental crisis. The political approach of the nation is limited; it seems utterly unable to look into the future and address the problems we are causing for future generations. If we carry on there will be no secure future. There are so many ignorant climate change deniers in the world today. Some argue on the grounds that it is bad for business, but business will have no future if we wreck what’s left of the planet. That talking bag of orange gas that sits in the white house is a prime example. In Britain, dramatically unqualified ministers are given the post of minister of environment and, if that wasn’t bad enough, a person even less qualified is the head of state in the U.S.A. If such a thing wasn’t so damaging to our planet, I would call it funny. It is a bitter pill or irony environmentalists are forced to swallow.
Lucas’ voice is a light in the dark. In a nation where nobody seems to give a damn, she stands up and addresses the truth. She doesn’t stand for power or to gain popularity, money and position for her supporters, but she simply stands because there is a huge issue that needs to be addressed. She’s a thoroughly honest politician, one who clearly takes her position more seriously than half of parliament. And this book tracks her entry into government, the obstacles she faced and the progress she made.
There’s an undercurrent of distain and derision in her words, as she enters this so called elitist club run my conservative fat cats and lazy politicians. Some of the other MPs have two, three and in one case, four other jobs, alongside managing their constituency. They are out to make money rather than being the voice of the people. They dine on expensive dishes, provided at the houses of parliament at the expense of the taxpayer. It is elitist, wrong and so out of touch with people today. Although the greens have but one voice in parliament, it is still progress. Perhaps one day we will have more.
“Green politics is deeply concerned with the places where we live: whether it is a one-bed flat or the entire planet, it is all part of our environment. It is also about how humanity can live in balance with our home the earth, and that is all humanity, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.”
For over a century Britain has been ruled by the same tired out political parties. For over a century no other new party has even so much as had a voice in parliament. In 2010 The Green Party of England and Whales finally broke through, making history, and gained a seat in the commons. The MP given the honour was Caroline Lucas and she still holds the seat today. It was time to shake up the old guard and address problems the other MPs were to short-sighted to recognise.
Indeed, the trouble with British politics, and perhaps all international politics, is its sheer inability to recognise and respond appropriately to the biggest issue the world faces: the environmental crisis. The political approach of the nation is limited; it seems utterly unable to look into the future and address the problems we are causing for future generations. If we carry on there will be no secure future. There are so many ignorant climate change deniers in the world today. Some argue on the grounds that it is bad for business, but business will have no future if we wreck what’s left of the planet. That talking bag of orange gas that sits in the white house is a prime example. In Britain, dramatically unqualified ministers are given the post of minister of environment and, if that wasn’t bad enough, a person even less qualified is the head of state in the U.S.A. If such a thing wasn’t so damaging to our planet, I would call it funny. It is a bitter pill or irony environmentalists are forced to swallow.
Lucas’ voice is a light in the dark. In a nation where nobody seems to give a damn, she stands up and addresses the truth. She doesn’t stand for power or to gain popularity, money and position for her supporters, but she simply stands because there is a huge issue that needs to be addressed. She’s a thoroughly honest politician, one who clearly takes her position more seriously than half of parliament. And this book tracks her entry into government, the obstacles she faced and the progress she made.
There’s an undercurrent of distain and derision in her words, as she enters this so called elitist club run my conservative fat cats and lazy politicians. Some of the other MPs have two, three and in one case, four other jobs, alongside managing their constituency. They are out to make money rather than being the voice of the people. They dine on expensive dishes, provided at the houses of parliament at the expense of the taxpayer. It is elitist, wrong and so out of touch with people today. Although the greens have but one voice in parliament, it is still progress. Perhaps one day we will have more.
October 30, 2016
This book is by Caroline Lucas, co-leader of The Green Party in Britain, and the only member of the party to hold a seat in Parliament. They have however 145 seats in county and district councils and three members in The European Parliament. This doesn't sound much, but she is well respected. She is quite often seen in political programmes on television, and I think she broadens these debates considerably, and for the better.
The book has two themes - firstly she critiques the recent coalition government of the Conservatives and Lib-Dems, and secondly she describes her impressions upon arriving in Parliament as a newcomer, and what she feels about the day-to-day running of Parliament, and selection of candidates.
I enjoyed both these topics, and whilst I found her ideas about the coalition government interesting, I won't discuss them here. Instead I will end with a synopsis of the changes that she would like to see made to parliamentry practices - mostly just taken straight from the book.
------------------------------
A synopsis of The Green Party's manifesto for the 2015 elections:
https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/...
A short interview with the BBC and the joint leaders of The Green Party - Caroline Lucas ad Jonathan Bartley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VY4-...
And although Lucas wants another referendum on proportional representation, we have already had one on the subject, and rejected it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...
(I am sure Lucas would argue that the 2011 referendum was badly constructed...)
The book has two themes - firstly she critiques the recent coalition government of the Conservatives and Lib-Dems, and secondly she describes her impressions upon arriving in Parliament as a newcomer, and what she feels about the day-to-day running of Parliament, and selection of candidates.
I enjoyed both these topics, and whilst I found her ideas about the coalition government interesting, I won't discuss them here. Instead I will end with a synopsis of the changes that she would like to see made to parliamentry practices - mostly just taken straight from the book.
------------------------------
A synopsis of The Green Party's manifesto for the 2015 elections:
https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/...
A short interview with the BBC and the joint leaders of The Green Party - Caroline Lucas ad Jonathan Bartley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VY4-...
And although Lucas wants another referendum on proportional representation, we have already had one on the subject, and rejected it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...
(I am sure Lucas would argue that the 2011 referendum was badly constructed...)
March 7, 2015
I'm not a Green supporter (at least not our slightly inept green council) but this is a fabulous book. A good old fashioned polemic and a manifesto and a history all wrapped up.
I was a little shocked to find out how much I agreed with her world view. Recommended for anyone who cares about SOMETHING... No matter what.
I was a little shocked to find out how much I agreed with her world view. Recommended for anyone who cares about SOMETHING... No matter what.
November 30, 2016
Being inspired and uplifted by the words of a politician is an unfamiliar experience and a lovely one. Caroline Lucas has written a lucid, humane, and hopeful book on her experiences as the UK’s first Green MP. There is a slightly bittersweet element to reading it now, however. In the 2015 election Lucas herself was deservedly re-elected to Brighton Pavilion with an increased majority, but the better government she repeatedly expresses a wish for post-coalition has not materialised. Instead, we get five years of Tories. Alas, that makes it highly unlikely that her sensible and constructive suggestions for reform to parliament will be followed up.
I can find nothing to criticise in this book, frankly. It is accessibly written and well structured, covers a range of issues relating to government policy and procedure, and demonstrates Lucas’ commitment to her principles and her constituents. I’ve never read anything quite like it, in fact, as Lucas is the unique position of an outsider inside the political system. Her analysis of the big three parties policy stances is thus very interesting. Indeed, Lucas made me think that it’s about time I joined the Green party. If you’re feeling disillusioned and apathetic about English politics (and at present who could blame you), I highly recommend this book as a breath of fresh air. Lucas makes it clear that there are major problems with UK democracy, but that positive change is more than possible. She strikes an excellent balance between pragmatism and idealism, emphasising that when MPs work together rather than focusing entirely on inter-party emnity improvements can occur.
Plus, it is so wonderful to find a politician really taking climate change as seriously as it deserves to be taken. For example, here is an economic vision that I can get behind:
I can find nothing to criticise in this book, frankly. It is accessibly written and well structured, covers a range of issues relating to government policy and procedure, and demonstrates Lucas’ commitment to her principles and her constituents. I’ve never read anything quite like it, in fact, as Lucas is the unique position of an outsider inside the political system. Her analysis of the big three parties policy stances is thus very interesting. Indeed, Lucas made me think that it’s about time I joined the Green party. If you’re feeling disillusioned and apathetic about English politics (and at present who could blame you), I highly recommend this book as a breath of fresh air. Lucas makes it clear that there are major problems with UK democracy, but that positive change is more than possible. She strikes an excellent balance between pragmatism and idealism, emphasising that when MPs work together rather than focusing entirely on inter-party emnity improvements can occur.
Plus, it is so wonderful to find a politician really taking climate change as seriously as it deserves to be taken. For example, here is an economic vision that I can get behind:
The prevailing economic narrative that ‘growth is good’ is probably the single biggest obstacle to tackling climate change. It ignores the fundamental paradox of how we are expected to have infinite growth on a planet of finite resources. As economist Kenneth Boulding remarked, ‘anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist’. It presupposes that economic growth will make people more happy, when all the evidence is that - once essential needs are met - more of it does not. It divides countries, making people think we need to compete to have the highest rate of growth, and treats economic activity as kind of international competition, when we should be working together. And if economic growth is your single most important target as a government, then it plays into the hands of those who claim to provide it: to industry, to those who depend on over-stimulating consumer demand, and to the energy companies who are so strongly opposed to any attempts to tackle climate change. [...]
The way our economy is currently structured means that, unless there is growth, people lose their jobs, the tax base shrinks and politicians struggle to fund the public services we all rely on every day. We need to break that cycle by building a new macro-economic model that is geared not towards growth, but towards achieving the outcomes that are important to society and which can be sustained by the planet’s finite carrying capacity.
March 30, 2015
This is Caroline Lucas’ account of five years as a Green MP. In it she covers the key areas of her work and outlines her beliefs. She also casts a critical eye over the arcane procedures of Parliament, and more importantly, the ways in which the institutions of state maintain the status quo.
This is an enjoyable and engaging read. You feel as if she’s in the room speaking to you. If you are new to Green politics, it’s a good introduction. For me, this is pretty familiar territory, but still, it’s good sometimes to go back to first principles, to hear someone articulate why the war on drugs isn’t working, or how patronage in the House of Commons stifles change or that a multinational was so powerful that it not only took out injunctions preventing reporting of its polluting behavior, but of the very fact the injunction existed.
It��s also reassuring when you embrace a minority political view to know you’re not alone. (Although it might be argued it’s not such a minority view, when voteforpolicies.org asked people to choose policies they liked without knowing whose they were, the Greens’ came out on top.)
Lucas covers key issues – climate change, housing, public ownership of rail and health. She also addresses some personal experiences, some serious, some almost farcical, like being told she had to cover up her ‘No More Page 3’ T-shirt during a debate, while conversely newspapers carrying photos of bare-breasted women are freely available throughout Westminster. She also talks about her arrest at an anti-fracking protest at Balcombe and subsequent acquittal.
She refers in passing to the difficulties of being a singleton MP, without the support of a party machine, and the need to build alliances with small parties such as the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. She also refers to the work she’s done with other independently minded MPs. This can make for strange bedfellows. She describes whispering in a corridor with then Tory (now UKIP) MP Douglas Carswell. It might have been interesting though, to have more on what those pressures has meant for the party. It’s interesting that she is no longer leader of the Green Party, that she felt unable to continue in both roles.
Elsewhere she has credited party leader Natalie Bennett with improving the party organisation and overseeing the massive growth in membership, but sadly Bennett is not as good at media as Lucas, and even more sadly, for many people that counts for as much as policy. But perhaps that’s for a different book. Or perhaps she thought it would alienate people if the book looked inward at party machinations.
It was interesting for me that she tackled head-on the concern of many who share her beliefs that nothing can be achieved through Parliament. It seems whoever is in government is in thrall to the corporations, with the institutions of state dancing to their tune with varying degrees of enthusiasm (Cameron et al positively salivating as they carve up the NHS or flog off Royal Mail). The first-past-the-post electoral system means that a vote for a small party can feel like a 'wasted' vote. Faced with a choice of 2½ neoliberal parties (as George Galloway memorably put it, three cheeks on the same backside) many people feel they can’t bring themselves to hold their nose and vote for any of them.
She argues that it is possible to be an ‘outsider on the inside’. Her argument, inspired by Petra Kelly, the German Green, is that change can come by working both inside and outside Parliament. She has certainly raised important issues and got them attention and forged alliances with pressure groups and activists.
At the time of writing, Parliament has just been dissolved and we are 37 days from the General Election. It is by no means certain that Lucas will retain her seat. It is clear that she hopes to, and that the Greens can be part of what she calls a progressive alliance with Labour, the Nationalists and even (at a push) the Liberal Democrats. I hope she is there to continue putting issues on the agenda.
This is an enjoyable and engaging read. You feel as if she’s in the room speaking to you. If you are new to Green politics, it’s a good introduction. For me, this is pretty familiar territory, but still, it’s good sometimes to go back to first principles, to hear someone articulate why the war on drugs isn’t working, or how patronage in the House of Commons stifles change or that a multinational was so powerful that it not only took out injunctions preventing reporting of its polluting behavior, but of the very fact the injunction existed.
It��s also reassuring when you embrace a minority political view to know you’re not alone. (Although it might be argued it’s not such a minority view, when voteforpolicies.org asked people to choose policies they liked without knowing whose they were, the Greens’ came out on top.)
Lucas covers key issues – climate change, housing, public ownership of rail and health. She also addresses some personal experiences, some serious, some almost farcical, like being told she had to cover up her ‘No More Page 3’ T-shirt during a debate, while conversely newspapers carrying photos of bare-breasted women are freely available throughout Westminster. She also talks about her arrest at an anti-fracking protest at Balcombe and subsequent acquittal.
She refers in passing to the difficulties of being a singleton MP, without the support of a party machine, and the need to build alliances with small parties such as the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. She also refers to the work she’s done with other independently minded MPs. This can make for strange bedfellows. She describes whispering in a corridor with then Tory (now UKIP) MP Douglas Carswell. It might have been interesting though, to have more on what those pressures has meant for the party. It’s interesting that she is no longer leader of the Green Party, that she felt unable to continue in both roles.
Elsewhere she has credited party leader Natalie Bennett with improving the party organisation and overseeing the massive growth in membership, but sadly Bennett is not as good at media as Lucas, and even more sadly, for many people that counts for as much as policy. But perhaps that’s for a different book. Or perhaps she thought it would alienate people if the book looked inward at party machinations.
It was interesting for me that she tackled head-on the concern of many who share her beliefs that nothing can be achieved through Parliament. It seems whoever is in government is in thrall to the corporations, with the institutions of state dancing to their tune with varying degrees of enthusiasm (Cameron et al positively salivating as they carve up the NHS or flog off Royal Mail). The first-past-the-post electoral system means that a vote for a small party can feel like a 'wasted' vote. Faced with a choice of 2½ neoliberal parties (as George Galloway memorably put it, three cheeks on the same backside) many people feel they can’t bring themselves to hold their nose and vote for any of them.
She argues that it is possible to be an ‘outsider on the inside’. Her argument, inspired by Petra Kelly, the German Green, is that change can come by working both inside and outside Parliament. She has certainly raised important issues and got them attention and forged alliances with pressure groups and activists.
At the time of writing, Parliament has just been dissolved and we are 37 days from the General Election. It is by no means certain that Lucas will retain her seat. It is clear that she hopes to, and that the Greens can be part of what she calls a progressive alliance with Labour, the Nationalists and even (at a push) the Liberal Democrats. I hope she is there to continue putting issues on the agenda.
November 22, 2019
Extremely interesting and somehow very relevant to our upcoming election despite being published in 2015!
September 6, 2015
I was given this book as a birthday present and I’ve read it all now.
Caroline Lucas is a very admirable politician. I’m sure she has lots of faults, we all do, but if only we had a few more politicians like her then environmental matters would get a much fairer hearing in the Westminster parliament and the world would be a better place.
Caroline was voted environmental MP of the year on this website in 2013 and I suggested that Labour could court green votes if they pledged to make Caroline Lucas Secretary of State at Defra as part of an electoral pact. I’ve also written that I would be gutted if Caroline Lucas lost her seat of Brighton Pavilion to Labour on 7 May.
But what of this book?
If your politics are of the left then you may agree with much of the book, as I did, and that will help you to enjoy it all the more, but if you are not of the same political bent then you are still likely to find this a good read. What does a new MP make of the traditions and methods of working of the Houses of Parliament? How is a new, woman MP treated by the predominantly male sitting MPs?
There are plenty of home truths for Labour supporters – like me. Chapter 16 is a good place to start but throughout the book you may find yourself mentally ticking off the agreements with Lucas even when she is criticising Labour.
This isn’t a book just about environmental matters, but you’ll find more about badger culls, climate change, fracking and bees than in most books on politics. Lucas knows her stuff and zips through the issues quickly, lightly but deftly. She covers a lot of ground in this book.
But the book covers all political issues and the last third or so suggests some solutions to our current problems too. A primary solution suggested in the book is to vote Green and if I lived in Lucas’s constituency then I most certainly would.
If you are going to vote on 7 May, and I do hope you do (however you cast your vote) then reading this book won’t do you any harm at all. It is a refreshing, wide-ranging commentary on our political system, its faults, the vested interests involved and the prospects for a more radical, fairer and better future. It’s not heavy – it’s quite fun actually. It’s obviously written from the heart but also from a wise head.
Quite often this book made me smile (usually at what Lucas writes about Tories) and sometimes it made me frown (usually at what she writes about the failings of Labour) but it never made me yawn.
An index would have helped!
This review first appeared on Mark Avery's blog http://markavery.info/2015/04/05/sund...
Caroline Lucas is a very admirable politician. I’m sure she has lots of faults, we all do, but if only we had a few more politicians like her then environmental matters would get a much fairer hearing in the Westminster parliament and the world would be a better place.
Caroline was voted environmental MP of the year on this website in 2013 and I suggested that Labour could court green votes if they pledged to make Caroline Lucas Secretary of State at Defra as part of an electoral pact. I’ve also written that I would be gutted if Caroline Lucas lost her seat of Brighton Pavilion to Labour on 7 May.
But what of this book?
If your politics are of the left then you may agree with much of the book, as I did, and that will help you to enjoy it all the more, but if you are not of the same political bent then you are still likely to find this a good read. What does a new MP make of the traditions and methods of working of the Houses of Parliament? How is a new, woman MP treated by the predominantly male sitting MPs?
There are plenty of home truths for Labour supporters – like me. Chapter 16 is a good place to start but throughout the book you may find yourself mentally ticking off the agreements with Lucas even when she is criticising Labour.
This isn’t a book just about environmental matters, but you’ll find more about badger culls, climate change, fracking and bees than in most books on politics. Lucas knows her stuff and zips through the issues quickly, lightly but deftly. She covers a lot of ground in this book.
But the book covers all political issues and the last third or so suggests some solutions to our current problems too. A primary solution suggested in the book is to vote Green and if I lived in Lucas’s constituency then I most certainly would.
If you are going to vote on 7 May, and I do hope you do (however you cast your vote) then reading this book won’t do you any harm at all. It is a refreshing, wide-ranging commentary on our political system, its faults, the vested interests involved and the prospects for a more radical, fairer and better future. It’s not heavy – it’s quite fun actually. It’s obviously written from the heart but also from a wise head.
Quite often this book made me smile (usually at what Lucas writes about Tories) and sometimes it made me frown (usually at what she writes about the failings of Labour) but it never made me yawn.
An index would have helped!
This review first appeared on Mark Avery's blog http://markavery.info/2015/04/05/sund...
January 9, 2016
I knew in advance that I would agree with most if not all of Caroline Lucas' positions, and of course this turned out to be the case. She is an effective, principled politician who has achieved a disproportionate amount of momentum since 2010. In this book, which recounts her first term as an MP, it is easy to see why. The energy and optimism with which she attacks issues and the archaic systems of Westminster are admirable.
There are many "if you didn't laugh you'd cry" examples of how Westminster really works, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned. I have said Westminster is broken for a long time, but reading this book reminded me that it is important to understand why it is broken, and to contribute to attempts to mend it one reform at a time.
A huge range of anecdotes and issues are covered in this book, so that it can feel at times like it lurches somewhat illogically from one thing to the next - but then, it occurs to me that his is probably a decent reflection of Caroline's days, weeks, months and years as an MP.
There are many "if you didn't laugh you'd cry" examples of how Westminster really works, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned. I have said Westminster is broken for a long time, but reading this book reminded me that it is important to understand why it is broken, and to contribute to attempts to mend it one reform at a time.
A huge range of anecdotes and issues are covered in this book, so that it can feel at times like it lurches somewhat illogically from one thing to the next - but then, it occurs to me that his is probably a decent reflection of Caroline's days, weeks, months and years as an MP.
March 2, 2024
Still a great book with lots of interesting content, but reading it in 2024 it has dated. The author laments the state of parliament back in 2015, but reading it now you know it's still going to get worse with Brexit, the Liar, the Lettuce and the Robot.
May 2, 2018
I love Caroline Lucas and think of her as an excellent, truly principled MP. We need more like her.
Honourable Friends? is a great insight into Green Party policies, and Lucas makes many points that had me nodding my head as well as screwing my face up in frustration. However, I did find parts of the book disjointed and in need of editing as a whole.
Honourable Friends? is a great insight into Green Party policies, and Lucas makes many points that had me nodding my head as well as screwing my face up in frustration. However, I did find parts of the book disjointed and in need of editing as a whole.
September 24, 2018
Caroline Lucas is the real deal, man. Yes, she is.
She is the dirtiest, most disgusting, worst thing the establishment has ever seen since The Sex Pistols. And she is fucking brilliant. Independent, consistent, bathes in a deep vat of integrity-laden goo every single hour of every single day for one thing. The people. The people she represents, yes. But, also the people of the world at the same time. There is not an ounce whatsoever of the deep entrenching stomach bile of hatred that most of this disillusioned country feels about politicians, and have done for so many years now. With no effort on their part to repair the damaged status quo.
I’m talking about expenses, race rows, hating jews, back-stabbing ministers (waves at Michael Gove), corruption, laying down on policies for the people who funded you into power, none of that. Caroline Lucas is probably the only pure, untouched politician in the country.
A lot of her policies are from the heart and that’s great, but sometimes that doesn’t work out in real life though. And she wanted the EU referendum to happen as early as 2013, but we will forgive her for that.
I’m not blowing smoke up her ass or sucking her dick because I am here RIGHT HERE in Brighton, England, where she created a tectonic plate shift in Westminster by being voted in as the first ever MP for the Green party, no. Hell, she’s not even my MP. I live in Hove, so technically my over-arching and superior overlord is a member of the Labour party. But her spirit and influence transcends anyone else in power in these ‘ere parts, Sheriff.
If I could vote for her, I would. But, I can’t. At the last election (I think, we’ve had so many), I voted in our sitting Labour MP, just to help kick the fucking Tories out of Sussex. All of East Sussex is now a Tory-free zone, you’re welcome. Normally I wouldn’t vote Labour (after B.Liar took us to an illegal war, I did) but I had to where I am.
Caroline’s book though. That’s where we were. Her book isn’t a boring biography of another politician, or is some tedious policy wonk slog only palatable to students as a resource; this is a book with heart. It’s a book with soul. It’s a big massive fuck you to Parliament, to the publishing industry breaking all of the rules for a book in the “politics genre”, because it’s generally fucking heart-warming and NEWS FLASH, fucking inspiring.
And Jesus, if this country needs one thing, it’s inspiring. And yes, there are a lot of things that I don’t agree with her with. But she is genuinely a breath of fresh air in a stagnant and archaic institution that, let’s face it, bores most of us to death. Electorate turnout figures will agree with me.
We are bored. We are sick of hearing about Brexit. We are sick of hearing about Donald Trump’s cartoon penis. You can have all the secondary referendums that you want. You can have all of the leadership challenges you want. Go ahead, elect a knob-head like Boris Johnson, the fact is Britain has stopped caring.
The sooner the politicians realise this, the better.
So maybe a refreshing voice is what is needed. A woman that isn’t afraid to come into the Parliament of Westminster and try and FUCK SHIT UP, like she has done. The Prime Minister has been called a ‘bloody difficult woman’ and that is laughable. Because Caroline Lucas makes her look like Dora The Explorer.
Caroline Lucas is fucking punk rock. Whether it’s being arrested at a fracking protest, showing up in the chamber in a NO MORE PAGE THREE t-shirt, she is the fucking business.
She is the fucking real deal.
She is the dirtiest, most disgusting, worst thing the establishment has ever seen since The Sex Pistols. And she is fucking brilliant. Independent, consistent, bathes in a deep vat of integrity-laden goo every single hour of every single day for one thing. The people. The people she represents, yes. But, also the people of the world at the same time. There is not an ounce whatsoever of the deep entrenching stomach bile of hatred that most of this disillusioned country feels about politicians, and have done for so many years now. With no effort on their part to repair the damaged status quo.
I’m talking about expenses, race rows, hating jews, back-stabbing ministers (waves at Michael Gove), corruption, laying down on policies for the people who funded you into power, none of that. Caroline Lucas is probably the only pure, untouched politician in the country.
A lot of her policies are from the heart and that’s great, but sometimes that doesn’t work out in real life though. And she wanted the EU referendum to happen as early as 2013, but we will forgive her for that.
I’m not blowing smoke up her ass or sucking her dick because I am here RIGHT HERE in Brighton, England, where she created a tectonic plate shift in Westminster by being voted in as the first ever MP for the Green party, no. Hell, she’s not even my MP. I live in Hove, so technically my over-arching and superior overlord is a member of the Labour party. But her spirit and influence transcends anyone else in power in these ‘ere parts, Sheriff.
If I could vote for her, I would. But, I can’t. At the last election (I think, we’ve had so many), I voted in our sitting Labour MP, just to help kick the fucking Tories out of Sussex. All of East Sussex is now a Tory-free zone, you’re welcome. Normally I wouldn’t vote Labour (after B.Liar took us to an illegal war, I did) but I had to where I am.
Caroline’s book though. That’s where we were. Her book isn’t a boring biography of another politician, or is some tedious policy wonk slog only palatable to students as a resource; this is a book with heart. It’s a book with soul. It’s a big massive fuck you to Parliament, to the publishing industry breaking all of the rules for a book in the “politics genre”, because it’s generally fucking heart-warming and NEWS FLASH, fucking inspiring.
And Jesus, if this country needs one thing, it’s inspiring. And yes, there are a lot of things that I don’t agree with her with. But she is genuinely a breath of fresh air in a stagnant and archaic institution that, let’s face it, bores most of us to death. Electorate turnout figures will agree with me.
We are bored. We are sick of hearing about Brexit. We are sick of hearing about Donald Trump’s cartoon penis. You can have all the secondary referendums that you want. You can have all of the leadership challenges you want. Go ahead, elect a knob-head like Boris Johnson, the fact is Britain has stopped caring.
The sooner the politicians realise this, the better.
So maybe a refreshing voice is what is needed. A woman that isn’t afraid to come into the Parliament of Westminster and try and FUCK SHIT UP, like she has done. The Prime Minister has been called a ‘bloody difficult woman’ and that is laughable. Because Caroline Lucas makes her look like Dora The Explorer.
Caroline Lucas is fucking punk rock. Whether it’s being arrested at a fracking protest, showing up in the chamber in a NO MORE PAGE THREE t-shirt, she is the fucking business.
She is the fucking real deal.
April 23, 2015
I'm a Green Party member and an admirer of the author so I expected to appreciate this book but it exceeded all my expectations. Lucas is a natural writer. Her style is fluent, engaging and witty as well as passionate and very lucid. As a reader and writer of novels I didn't know non-fiction could be so compelling but this really is the kind of book you'll read in days rather than weeks, and it's packed with interesting details about life at Westminster, her life as an MP so far and of course the issues that she and I believe in - but it won't depress you, because somehow she retains her faith in people and offers hope for the future.
April 1, 2015
A fascinating insight into the workings of parliament and politics of the past 5 years that would be enjoyable for any politico, despite their beliefs.
Caroline Lucas has time and time again shown herself to be a politician of principle and conviction and it saddens me that I'm not part of the electorate that can ensure her another 5 years.
Caroline Lucas has time and time again shown herself to be a politician of principle and conviction and it saddens me that I'm not part of the electorate that can ensure her another 5 years.
December 28, 2019
I don't agree with Caroline on every single point of her politics; when is that *ever* true? I have a great deal of admiration for her, however, and while this took me an uncharacteristically long time to read - I kept putting it down and picking it up again a couple of weeks later - I learned a lot from it, and have been inspired by it to keep on keeping on in my own corner of our shared party.
April 15, 2024
I have always liked Caroline Lucas - always saw her as one of the politicians (although she wouldn't like to call herself that) with the greatest of integrity. This book only goes to further that notion. I really wanted to read it ahead of her new book being released this year, and it was fascinating to see a 2015 account from a parliamentarian, one year before the Brexit vote and the country became more fractured than ever. I am sad that she is stepping down but she is only human.
It is not, as so many might expect, an attack on all things she doesn't agree with. Rather it is a sensible and level headed approach to reform within parliament and the approach to change. There are surprises in there, which goes to show how tribalism can colour things, I have no time for Michael Fabricant's views for example, but he shows an element of humanity within the book that belies the image I have of him. Essentially, lots of things have to happen before change for the better happens, and above all Miss Lucas paints a picture of human decency overcoming most things, but not antiquated procedures and a government entrenched in funding from outside sources (on both sides of the house). There is real hope within the book that this can one day happen - I would urge anyone with any interest in politics to read this book as it is so well put and not in the least angry. Even to the point where she was wrongfully arrested, it is a balanced and calm output. The House and indeed the government could do with a lot more people like Caroline Lucas, not with the same opinion, but with the same objective outlook and practical approach to societal and governmental reform.
It is not, as so many might expect, an attack on all things she doesn't agree with. Rather it is a sensible and level headed approach to reform within parliament and the approach to change. There are surprises in there, which goes to show how tribalism can colour things, I have no time for Michael Fabricant's views for example, but he shows an element of humanity within the book that belies the image I have of him. Essentially, lots of things have to happen before change for the better happens, and above all Miss Lucas paints a picture of human decency overcoming most things, but not antiquated procedures and a government entrenched in funding from outside sources (on both sides of the house). There is real hope within the book that this can one day happen - I would urge anyone with any interest in politics to read this book as it is so well put and not in the least angry. Even to the point where she was wrongfully arrested, it is a balanced and calm output. The House and indeed the government could do with a lot more people like Caroline Lucas, not with the same opinion, but with the same objective outlook and practical approach to societal and governmental reform.
October 21, 2019
I moved to this country in 2012 and I’m sorry to say, I was fooled back then by Tory Cameron’s confident posturing. By 2015-2016, post-election, the scales were falling fast off my eyes and I began to pay attention to the arguments from the so-called left. Even so, what this book brings home to me is the detail of 2010-2015 which I might never have otherwise come across. Why did Cameron appoint the likes of climate change sceptic Owen Paterson as Secretary of State for the Environment? The economic arguments against building more new nuclear plants are clear as day. Yet why is this not clear in public discourse? Caroline Lucas lays out one appalling insight after another and indirectly lays bare how reduced our political thinking has become. We’re reduced to superficial spin and lazy prejudiced opinions, as extracted from political interviews and put together in the papers and social media. Yet meaningful effective evidence based argument is alive and well. Why it doesn’t get heard can only be explained by the way the media presents unscrutinised spin as counter argument.
Anyway, whatever your position on the political spectrum, this book is worth your time. For me it gets interesting after page 8 and it’s all good after that.
Anyway, whatever your position on the political spectrum, this book is worth your time. For me it gets interesting after page 8 and it’s all good after that.
November 11, 2018
5 stars
This was so good! So the Green Party is my political party ( I am a member of the Green society at my uni ) because of what they stand for : equality for everyone and respect for the environment. So I knew when I saw this I just had to pick it up. This is written by the only Green MP in UK parliament Caroline Lucas. I was initially hesitant to pick this up as I barely read Non-Fiction but this has encouraged me to read a bit more non-fiction , especially relating to Politics and the environment.
This was filled with so many interesting details that I had no idea about and the ideas that Caroline Lucas has are really incredible eg. parliamentary reform because parliament is still unrepresentative. Chapter 5 about being a voice for the environment was one of the best things i’ve ever read. I also loved the part about how FPTP is failing as an electoral system and not truly representing the views of the people. Change is needed within the UK parliament and UK politics in general (including Scottish Parliament) as a young person hoping to work in politics in the future I hope that I can help to make UK politics better and more representative of the peoples true views.
This was so good! So the Green Party is my political party ( I am a member of the Green society at my uni ) because of what they stand for : equality for everyone and respect for the environment. So I knew when I saw this I just had to pick it up. This is written by the only Green MP in UK parliament Caroline Lucas. I was initially hesitant to pick this up as I barely read Non-Fiction but this has encouraged me to read a bit more non-fiction , especially relating to Politics and the environment.
This was filled with so many interesting details that I had no idea about and the ideas that Caroline Lucas has are really incredible eg. parliamentary reform because parliament is still unrepresentative. Chapter 5 about being a voice for the environment was one of the best things i’ve ever read. I also loved the part about how FPTP is failing as an electoral system and not truly representing the views of the people. Change is needed within the UK parliament and UK politics in general (including Scottish Parliament) as a young person hoping to work in politics in the future I hope that I can help to make UK politics better and more representative of the peoples true views.
July 15, 2024
I’ve always suspected that Parliament was made up of pompous, middle-aged, privileged white males. Reading Caroline Lucas’ excellent book just confirms that sadly, that is exactly what it is.
Early in the book she describes the Palace of Westminster as “one of the best gentlemen’s clubs in London and the only one you are paid for attending”.
Caroline’s description of the workings of parliament are eye-opening, shocking and to be frank, downright depressing. It is clearly horribly outdated and in desperate need of reform, but unlikely to ever get it.
The only glimmer of hope is that with more Green MPs and other smaller parties and independent MPs, there is scope for fresh, independent thinking in the house, unlike MPs of the two main parties who are bullied into towing the party line at all times.
This book covers the period following her election as the first ever Green Party MP IN 2010 to her re-election in 2015, but hopefully Caroline will soon publish a full memoir now that she is no longer an MP.
So an excellent read, highly recommended if you are of a Green persuasion and even if you are not.
Early in the book she describes the Palace of Westminster as “one of the best gentlemen’s clubs in London and the only one you are paid for attending”.
Caroline’s description of the workings of parliament are eye-opening, shocking and to be frank, downright depressing. It is clearly horribly outdated and in desperate need of reform, but unlikely to ever get it.
The only glimmer of hope is that with more Green MPs and other smaller parties and independent MPs, there is scope for fresh, independent thinking in the house, unlike MPs of the two main parties who are bullied into towing the party line at all times.
This book covers the period following her election as the first ever Green Party MP IN 2010 to her re-election in 2015, but hopefully Caroline will soon publish a full memoir now that she is no longer an MP.
So an excellent read, highly recommended if you are of a Green persuasion and even if you are not.
December 1, 2017
A vital book given the current level of distrust towards all politicians (understandably). A great insight into the ridiculous processes and traditions of life in Westminster. A bit of a warning though, this will definitely not make you feel any better about the ability or desire of the political establishment to improve life for the electorate. Despite attempts to remain upbeat about the possibilities, I was left feeling pretty bleak. 100s of years of the current political system have led us to a position where it is made all but impossible to improve things for anyone except those that wield power (nb. this is not the politicians. But if you're reading this book, this won't be news to you).
The book itself was well written and interesting throughout. Falls short of 5 stars purely because the latter chapters didn't quite match the earlier ones. This may be more personal preference than anything else; I found the "expose" of the workings of Westminster more appealing than the day to day political life. Absolutely worth a read though.
The book itself was well written and interesting throughout. Falls short of 5 stars purely because the latter chapters didn't quite match the earlier ones. This may be more personal preference than anything else; I found the "expose" of the workings of Westminster more appealing than the day to day political life. Absolutely worth a read though.
June 20, 2020
Caroline Lucas is a fabulous MP and activist. In this part memoir part polemic part history she strips down complicated sounding politics and exposes archaic, biased Westminster for what it is.
Her position as the sole Green Party MP, a forever backbencher without the threat of the whip hanging over her - allows her to see things clearly, and truly work for her constituency. She uses her passion and dedication to form cross-party alliances in order to push change through when she can, though often finds herself frustrated by the ludicrousness of Parliament.
Not only does she talk about the environment and climate, undoubtably important topics, but she goes beyond her perceived MO and delves into energy, war, healthcare, western involvement in the middle east and so on; speaking plainly about what could be done, yet what past governments have refused to action.
A truly admirable, principled woman who refuses to speak in riddles, she is a breath of fresh air in shouty Westminster, the likes of which the country rarely sees, and need more of.
Her position as the sole Green Party MP, a forever backbencher without the threat of the whip hanging over her - allows her to see things clearly, and truly work for her constituency. She uses her passion and dedication to form cross-party alliances in order to push change through when she can, though often finds herself frustrated by the ludicrousness of Parliament.
Not only does she talk about the environment and climate, undoubtably important topics, but she goes beyond her perceived MO and delves into energy, war, healthcare, western involvement in the middle east and so on; speaking plainly about what could be done, yet what past governments have refused to action.
A truly admirable, principled woman who refuses to speak in riddles, she is a breath of fresh air in shouty Westminster, the likes of which the country rarely sees, and need more of.
January 25, 2025
Great book. I might have given it four stars on account of some praise for Russell Brand which was dubious even in 2015 and is outright anachronistic now, but I'll overlook that.
Obviously the fact I agreed with 95% of what Caroline Lucas says and does predisposes me towards her, but this book was actually fun to read. She has a good breezy style, suited to the quite heavy subjects tackled in this book. It worked for me as bedtime reading as it is relentlessly optimistic in the face of the global and local challenges Caroline talks us through here.
I'm looking forward to tackling her most recent book next.
Obviously the fact I agreed with 95% of what Caroline Lucas says and does predisposes me towards her, but this book was actually fun to read. She has a good breezy style, suited to the quite heavy subjects tackled in this book. It worked for me as bedtime reading as it is relentlessly optimistic in the face of the global and local challenges Caroline talks us through here.
I'm looking forward to tackling her most recent book next.
May 2, 2019
An interesting account of Caroline Lucas’ first five years as a Green MP, between 2010 and 2015. I don’t agree with her on everything but I admire her spirit and her principled stand for what she believes in. She is particularly convincing in her criticisms of the UK’s electoral voting and political party systems and I’m all the more persuaded of the need for urgent change. It must be very hard to have an impact when you’re the only MP a party has, but she seems to have achieved a lot. I’d now like to read her account of the Brexit years.
August 14, 2024
I have read the first few chapters. A Very interesting commentary of how the UK Parliament works , its traditions , its quirks . How archaic it is in many ways. When will they introduce electronic voting? Unfortunately as there was a great deal of politics in the news at the time i borrowed this from the library - it was around the time 4th July of the UK general election- there was a lot else to read . And of curse this should be returned to in due course.
Recommended? Yes definitely if you are interested in the environment and uk politics.
Recommended? Yes definitely if you are interested in the environment and uk politics.
November 22, 2025
Caroline Lucas, Britain's first Green MP, tells of her experience of being a progressive MP during her first term as an MP (a parliament dominated by the "Coalition"). Written just after her re-election for a second term in 2015, with the unknowns of Brexit and Covid still to come. She writes about the shortcomings of the present parliamentary system, but willing to acknowledge good moments and good people (from all parties). She also lays out the Green agenda in a positive way, which essentially hasn't changed in principal over the last 10 years, though some of the issues have changed.
December 19, 2021
Caroline Lucas is as close as it’s possible to get to a polar opposite of the UK’s current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. She is intelligent, principled, courageous, and decent. This book is not only about the huge issues of climate change and social justice, it’s also about the UK’s bizarre and dysfunctional system of government, one that holds the country back and frustrates the efforts of politicians across the spectrum who simply try to do what is right.
September 26, 2017
Lucas is a wonderful, unusual politician and her thoughts on her first term in parliament are refreshing and inspiring. Her vision of a better parliament is radical yet feels entirely achievable. Much like her vision for a better world. The book is a little dry in places but a worthwhile and enjoyable read.
August 21, 2020
I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters and felt like I was learning but felt like the book lost focus later on. It probably doesn’t help that the book is a bit dated now focusing on issues between 2010-2015, I would still love to read an updated book by Caroline with more current issues and also more of an outline of her green vision for the uk
October 31, 2024
This book provides a really interesting and fascinating look into the workings of government. Loads of interesting snippets of information, so much so that my book is full of yellow highlights! Politics must most certainly change but it’s good to know that there is a party out there with morals. I’m looking forward to reading Caroline Lucas’ newest book ‘Another England’.
September 8, 2017
Functional, workaday prose, but everyone in the UK should read this book - not for her politics so much as her exposée of the lunacy of our political system and the immense power yielded by corporations and old boys' networks. I was goggle-eyed with horror almost throughout.
March 27, 2018
I love Caroline Lucas but she's no author. She offers an interesting and unique insight into the (shocking) inner workings of parliament and for that reason this is a book worth reading. What it isn't is particularly well-written.
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