In the Thick of It

by Alan Duncan

As Minister of State at the Foreign Office, Alan Duncan was once described as Boris Johnson’s ‘pooper-scooper’. For two years, he deputised for the then Foreign Secretary, now Prime Minister. Few are more attuned to Boris’s strengths and weaknesses as a minister and his suitability for high office than the man who helped clear up his mistakes.

Riotously candid, these diaries cover the most turbulent period in recent British political history – from the eve of the referendum in 2016 to the UK’s eventual exit from the EU. As two prime ministers fall, two general elections unfold and a no-confidence vote is survived, Duncan records a treasure-trove of insider gossip, giving biting and often hilarious accounts of petty rivalries, poor decision-making, big egos, and big crises.

Nothing escapes Alan’s acerbic gaze. Across these unfiltered daily entries, he builds a revealing and often profound picture of UK politics and personalities. A rich seam of high politics and low intrigue, this is an account from deep inside the engine room of power.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Biography

512 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2021

Reviews

[Andrew H · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, Alan Duncan felt the need to record events as they were, in the moment, and rushed home every night to type into his computer. And that is exactly how this book reads. No style. No insight. No reflection. But a hell of a lot of bad writing and rather obvious school boy humour and back slapping. In the thick of it indeed, scribbling from the sidelines.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read in that it provides an insight into the day-to-day life of a government minister, but at times I felt that I disagreed with the author wholeheartedly and that some of his personal attacks on others were uncalled for and/or over the line.

By the end of the diaries it was very repetitive, and although I enjoyed it, I did have higher hopes for this book. Also, I want to know what Tobias Elwood ever did to deserve such a thorough character assassination throughout!

[Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alan Duncan is a self regarding dickhead who occasionally realises just how awful his fellow Tories are

[PAUL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much to like and much to dislike. I'm surprised the homunculus Duncan didn't change the title to something like 'How I saved the world', such is the megalomania offered here. The man has a head as big as the moon and an ego as large as the Isle of Wight.

His catamite deserves his teeth knocking down his throat for his cruel and stupid behaviour described on page 185.

[Ben Rowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A diary that covers one of the most turbulent and damaging periods in UK politics. The book starts at a riveting, entertaining pace as all the main characters in parliament get a grilling by the author. Sadly, these ‘zingers’ do begin to wear thin, as the diary morphs into a series of meeting minutes.
In reviewing some of the other comments of the book, it seems the overall rating on goodreads is undercut slightly by a load of 1* from users with an ax to grind. “Tory C**t” is not a book review but a political statement made by someone who has little interest in reaching across the divide by actually reading the book.

[Jamad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not read all of this. As the Grauniad put it “too much bile and not enough style”

“A despicable day for the decency of British politics. There is nothing worse than civil servants thinking that they are more important than elected and accountable politicians. An entire report should be written about those in the Cabinet Office who sit in judgement about these matters of propriety in our politics. They stopped me becoming Minister for the Middle East on the grounds that my former links with the region would not pass the ‘sniff test’, which is nothing more than an arbitrary judgement, rather than something explicitly in the rules.”

The book is full of insights such as….
“Cyprus is one of my main responsibilities – its northern part is Turkish occupied, whereas the rest are Greek Cypriots.”

[Duncan Maccoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. It covers fascinating period of UK parliamentary history.

The author comes out of every page, likable mostly.

This is a book to keep, treasure, re-read and remember.

Thanks, Alan.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tory Cunt.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far from explosive - more a damp squib. Self serving and rather boring.

[Connor Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

love alan duncan and miss him in govt. great insight to ministerial life and delightfully bitchy.

[John Loaring · Rating 2 out of 5]

A series of rambling jottings from Sir Alan's diaries. Interesting insights into the character of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson revealing what a cowardly cad he really is.

[nomsayin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entire diary which was even updated to include recent events, and not once did Daddy Duncan start off an entry with 'dear diary'. Missed opportunity, 3/5.

[Bill Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed reading political diaries over the last couple of decades, starting with the single volume from Robin Cook. The big journey was going through Tony Benn's that are by far the most insightful for policy and life in UK Government. Chris Mullin's were very entertaining, amusing and offered some insight into the Blair government and the civil service. I'd never read anything from the right until I saw a cheap copy of Alan Duncan's diaries of life as a junior minister in the Tory governments leading to Brexit. I did enjoy it and it compared closest to Mullin, but whereas Mullin comes over as genuinely likeable and interesting, Duncan does have a lot of the public school boy about him and enjoys mocking of others (behind their backs, I suspect) - often justified, in my mind. I certainly don't share his politics but he clearly wanted to make things work rather than just be public figure, but he was always ready for a radio or TV interview. As a reminder of the chaos in government from the Brexit referendum to withdrawal it ranges from the interesting to the depressing as the failure of politics is laid bare, the dealings largely predicated on ego, rather than what is best for the general population. Nothing new there. Still, I am happy to have read it and see the other side.

[Bob Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully scurrilous

[Gareth Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diaries of Tory MP Sir Alan Duncan from 2016-2019 detailing the chaos of the Brexit vote and subsequent negotiations. Easy enough read but tone very self righteous throughout.

[Angie Clay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly one star is polite. Tory minister moaning about the Tory party for ten hours.

[Tici · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some v interesting and funny insights but others not very kind

[Sally Miles · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth reading- vacuous, self-serving tedious twaddle

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This often reads like a political telephone directory - no wonder Duncan kept a diary, just to record the names of the countless people he seems to deal with.
It’s all quite insular and I often felt that Duncan spent 98% of his time with politicians, Spads, researchers and diplomats, and hardly ever met anyone outside of those circles. He doesn’t seem bothered about it either. He’s immersed in the world he inhabits, an endless round of meetings, titles, flights, policy detail and international squabbles. No wonder he couldn’t really understand why Britain voted for Brexit - he never meets any “normal” people living ordinary lives outside Westminster. Nevertheless you get the feeling he’s pretty disdainful of the people who voted Leave - they clearly didn’t think things through, as he very regularly asserts that he did. Therefore he bases his opinion about Leavers on the people he does know who voted that way, the politicians, Spads, researchers, diplomats etc. etc.. But, as the people knew, and know, there was hardly a soul in Westminster who really wanted Britain out of the EU, which is why they were all so shocked when it happened, and did everything in their power to prevent it after the event.
Duncan goes out of his way on a daily basis to list who he’s seen, what meetings he attended, how his time was eaten up. He’s so busy and seems anxious to convey this to the reader. But, I wondered, with all this running around, glad-handing and attending meetings, did anything ever really get done? It’s hard to pick out any examples as he boards yet another flight from Miami to Geneva via London en route from one meeting to the next.
In my career, if I drank the way these politicians do, I’d have been fired pretty quickly. We are treated to stories of late night meetings and negotiations where several of the participants can’t remember what they agreed the next morning. The drinking culture in Parliament is surely its dirty secret. I generally really enjoy political diaries, but I found this hard going. I couldn’t put my finger on why either. In the end, reading about yet another list of political never-will-be’s and yet more rounds of futile meetings, the thought struck me, “God, this is just dull”, and put it down, never to pick back up.

[Tony Fitzpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Subtitled "The Private Diaries of a Minister, Alan Duncan's memoir is rude about everyone, with the possible exception of his husband, and the members of the Royal Family - either here or in Oman (he loves the Queen, and is very proud of his relationship with the late Sultan). In a crowded market I presume you need something special to make your political reminiscences stand out, and Duncan's strategy is to be brutally honest about everyone - members of his Association, other Government Ministers, the opposition etc; it is more or less a plan to sell books by burning your bridges with everyone! The book covers the years 2016 - early 2020, and is very entertaining. Duncan's observations on the way in which the current Prime Minister conducts himself as Foreign Secretary (and after Boris's resignation in that job) are delicious, and his personal relationship with the "robotic" Mrs May confirms that the public perception of her poor social and personal skills is very accurate. I loved some of the nicknames - Priti Patel became "Priti Awful", and John Bercow "Speaker Hobbit". Accuracy however we must take with a pinch of salt. Duncan's ego is enormous, but his despair on the current state of politics is well founded. The stories relating to how he was briefed against by the CFI to stop him getting allocated the Ministerial Arab responsibilities in the Foreign Office, despite being well qualified, is disgraceful. Enjoyable, occasional laugh out loud read. Not sure his memorial service when it comes will be full of many ex-MP colleagues however!

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I've just finished this tiresome tome having begun just after Xmas...feels like it took me as long to get through as the period the author covers in the book itself. Not sure why I persevered....probably out of loyalty to my parents whom I asked to buy it for me for Xmas.

I'm left wondering to what extent Duncan realises his lifestyle and privilege grate on the average reader: jetting off around the world every five minutes, hobnobbing with the great and the (not always so) good, absolute certainty in his rapier judgements of others. The stream of put-downs are tempered by his adoration of all things royal (be they British or Middle-Eastern).

Sure, if we buy a book written by a minister of state we expect their routine to be a little different, but there's nothing compelling here, nothing to make you want to read on...just day after day of meetings, flights, put-downs (did I already mention them?).

Maybe people with a particular interest in conservative politics / world-view or the humdrum detail of government life might find something here but it's certainly not for the 'just curious'.

[Laurence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Style necessarily bitty as a diary. There are some interesting insights into this thinking. Particularly that this obviously fairly pro-remain character was never convinced of any arguments for a so called 'People's Vote'. And his willingness at the beginning to work with Boris who he obviously disliked.
Some good insights into the workings of a constituency party also.
Gives also some helpful insight into actual day to day life for him in this role - particularly how much time needs to be spent informally meeting others.
One point of irritation was the constant Israel bashing, which seemed to be on his mind even when it wasn't the issue of the day, and which the format never really gave him any space to explain his reasoning for - therefore it came across at straightforward anti-semitism when I'm sure his underlying viewpoint is probably more nuanced.

[Judethmc · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I were to give stars for politics then it would scrap a 1, but I didn't buy it for politics. I got it for gossip and insite during one of the most turbulent times in UK politics. All the books for the next 5yrs will be Tory until the other parties sort themselves out and "takes back control." It's sage to say he loves to be loved, is quick.to highlight others' mistakes, or more often, things he doesn't agree with and will support without question whoever leads his party. It's also safe to say there seem to be few who are friends in politics but thankfully they all love a good gossip and I'm true sycophantic style love the attention a publication can bring them - though adoration may be lacking from what they expect!

[Artie LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

A warts and all portrait of British politics, particularly Conservative politics, through the run-up to Brexit.
The international work done by Duncan at the Foreign Office is of some interest, but the reportage is unbalanced. The politics of the Conservative Party and of The Commons is frankly depressing. The book made me glad that I never went into politics.

The author has been fairly open in his view of colleagues - in places I found him gratuitously rude.

Notwithstanding, it gives what I imagine is a fairly honest account of the life and pressures of a junior minister. And I had forgotten just how long the Brexit process dragged on!

[Malcolm Schaffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never liked Alan Duncan as a politician or person and these diaries do not change that - too much self importance and venomous hatred within the pages.However that does make the diaries a worthwhile read fulfilling the main function of a political diary with tales of naked ambition ,ferocious rivalries and lots of gossip,The greatest fun is that much of the hatred is turned on members of his own party,especially the brexit crew which almost makes me warm to the author .but not quite!

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Duncan was my local MP so that interested me enough to read it although there's little about local politics. The Brexit transition period has been well covered as of late and this doesn't add much that's new, but it gives you a kind of insider's view to the kind of things being said and going on at the time. It's most appealing for the endlessly bitchy comments that Duncan makes about all and sundry.

[Aleysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is hilarious, though I doubt in the way it was intended. A very interesting insight into the thoughts of a Tory arsehole with an incredibly over-inflated ego. Also, it’s remarkable that there haven’t been any allegations of sexual misconduct given the way he speaks about some men he interacts with. 10/10 for the insults imparted on some colleagues, my favourite is that Gove is an ‘unctuous freak’.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does do what is days on the tin- it is the diaries, not anything else. No added analysis or hindsight, however it is what the title suggests. I find it it littered with classism, ablelism and sexism, perhaps providing a more accurate perception of Duncan as a politician or the culture of Westminster. Overall, it was a long one of somewhat mundane content at time, but a valuable albeit subjective perception of political events at the time

[Hannah Whybrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst I disagreed with many of Duncan's opinions, and found him painfully self-congratulatory and ignorant of his own privilege, this was a fascinating re-entry to the 'Brexit years' as they unfolded, and was a fun(?) reminder of the political chaos and obstruction of those years. Quite repetitive at times and not for somebody who isn't interested in the functioning of government, but nevertheless an interesting read, particularly knowing what comes next!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this an absolutely fascinating insight into politics and the people in power in the later half of the 2010s. It’s long and it has taken a while to read, but appreciation of the misdeeds of Boris and his henchmen were quite fascinating in view of the situation he finds himself in January 2022.
I certainly didn’t agree with many of the writers views but thoroughly recommend it.