PRIME MINISTERS: 300 Years of Political Leadership

A Times Political Book of the Year and winner of the 2020 Parliamentary Book Awards, here is an entertaining, thorough and informative canter through the characters and stories of Prime Ministers past. There are a wealth of insights into the history of Britain, politics, the role of Prime Minister, and the elite and establishment power in a superb guide to the times we are living in. In the 300 years since Sir Robert Walpole arguably became the first holder of the office of Prime Minister in 1721, it is an office which today is under scrutiny like never before. Edited by leading political commentator Iain Dale, the book brings to life all 55 of Britain's 'First Among Equals' with an essay for each office holder written by key figures in British politics. For example the Duke of Newcastle (1754-6, 1757-62) by Jeremy Black, the Earl of Bute (1762-3) by David Torrance and William Pitt the Elder (1766-8) by Charles Pitt, Sir Robert Peel (1834-5, 1841-6) by Robert Saunders and the Earl of Rosebery (1894-5) by Leo McKinstry right through to Iain Dale's own summary of Boris Johnson (2019). 527 page illustrated paperback.