Inside Story: Politics, Intrigue and Treachery from Thatcher to Brexit

by Philip Webster

On Sale: 10/20/2016

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Inside Story: Politics, Intrigue and Treachery from Thatcher to Brexit

by Philip Webster

On Sale: 10/20/2016

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About the Book

From one of the greatest political journalists of recent times, an insider’s account of four decades of covering the British political scene, packed with tales of the biggest political happenings of the last half century.

Philip Webster covered politics for The Times newspaper for 43 years, including 18 years as its political editor. He has been at the centre of all the big stories of the past four decades – the fall of Labour in 1979, the rise and fall of Margaret Thatcher, the emergence and fall of John Major, the rise and fall of Tony Blair and his wars with Gordon Brown, the aftermath of 9/11, the war in Iraq, the fall of Brown, the rise and rise of David Cameron, and the shock election of Jeremy Corbyn.

Beautifully illustrated with Peter Brookes’ cartoons, Webster offers fresh insight into the great stories of his time. He gives a frank and revelatory insider’s account of great political events since Michael Heseltine brandished the Mace, the night the Callaghan government fell, the day Sir Geoffrey Howe brought down Margaret Thatcher, the day Tony Blair said farewell, the night MPs voted for war in Iraq; and every Budget and autumn statement for 40 years.

With the wit and geniality that has made him so many friends in politics, he reveals how stories came into his hands and how political journalism influences events as they unfolded. He has witnessed what he terms a golden age of political journalism and this book offers an intimate account of his trade. The essential handbook for anyone interested by the craft of journalism, ‘Inside Story’ reviews three decades of lead stories and the many politicians, great and small, that he has encountered.

Critical Praise

‘Webster is simply the best – a journalist with a sensational range of stories’ Andrew Marr

‘Magnificent tome by Philip Webster. Great insights into the world of political journalism’ Iain Dale

‘Philip Webster is a journalist of real intelligence and integrity with an ability to get on with all sides of the political spectrum’ Alastair Campbell

'One of the greatest political journalists of my lifetime' Fraser Nelson, editor of The Spectator

‘A brilliant journalist’ Tony Blair

‘This book is not, nor does it try to be, a complete political history of the period. All the better for it. This is history vignette by vignette. Regardless of how politics changed over four decades, Webster’s essential activity remained the same – finding out things. He did that with distinction, through seven prime ministers, not to mention nine editors of The Times’ The Times