Mark Garnett Downing Street Downfalls review, recensie en informatie boek over de problemen van Britse premiers sinds Thatcher. Op 20 november 2025 verschijnt bij Agenda Publishing het boek van Mark Garnett, hoofddocent politiek aan de Lancester University over de problemen van de premiers van het Verenigd Koninkrijk sinds Margaret Thatcher. Er is geen Nederlandse vertaling van het boek verkrijgbaar.
Mark Garnett Downing Street Downfalls review en recensie
- “Rigorous research, insightful analysis and brilliant writing are the hallmarks of this book. For those seeking a pithy but scholarly understanding of what ended British premierships from Thatcher to Sunak, Mark Garnett is an invaluable guide. His combination of academic thoroughness and good-humoured prose is special.” (John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, 2009–2019)
- “Remember that you are mortal, slaves in ancient Rome would tell victorious generals. Downing Street Downfalls shows that the same is true of prime ministers, and in doing so provides a penetrating and acerbic analysis of recent British politics.” (Sir Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government, King’s College, London)
- “Garnett combines intelligent and scholarly insights, analogies with Greek mythology and razor-sharp wit and satire … absolutely brilliant!” (Peter Dorey, Professor of British Politics, Cardiff University)
Downing Street Downfalls
The Misadventures of Britain’s Prime Ministers Since Thatcher
- Auteur: Mark Garnett (Engeland)
- Soort boek: Britse politieke geschiedenis
- Taal: Engels
- Uitgever: Agenda Publishing
- Verschijnt: 20 november 2025
- Omvang: 256 pagina’s
- Uitgave: paperback / ebook
- Prijs: £ 20,00
- Boek bestellen bij: Amazon / Bol / Libris
Flaptekst van het boek over de problemen van Britse premiers sinds Thatcher
Even before Boris Johnson’s rollercoaster ride (2019–22), and the ensuing “blink and you missed it” premiership of Liz Truss, the high wastage-rate among Britain’s prime ministers was becoming a cause for concern. Between 1979 and 2007 Britain had just three heads of government: Margaret Thatcher (1979–90), John Major (1990–97) and Tony Blair (1997–2007). Over the next 17 years six politicians followed them in and out of Downing Street.
This book, which straddles more than 30 years of prime ministerial misadventures, poses questions about the underlying factors as well as the specific circumstances for individual departures. Is the role of prime minister just becoming too difficult to perform successfully? If so, why? Has there been a decline in calibre in the candidates holding office? In exploring how the famous entrance to number 10 Downing Street has become a revolving door, the book shines a fresh light on the nature of politics and political office in the UK today.
Mark Garnett is senior lecturer in politics at Lancaster
University. His books on the Conservative Party include
acclaimed biographies of Tory grandees Keith Joseph and
Willie Whitelaw.
