Chris Mullin has been a Labour MP for twenty years. In that time he has not been afraid to criticise his party. But despite his refusal to toe the party line - on issues like 90 days detention and Africa, for example - he has held several prominent posts. To the apoplexy of the whips, he was for a time the only person appointed to government who voted against the Iraq War. He also chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee and was a member of the Parliamentary Committee, giving him direct access to the court of Tony Blair. Mullin is irreverent, wry and candid. His keen sense of the ridiculous allows him to give a far clearer insight into the workings of Government than other, more overtly successful and self-important politicians. He offers humorous and incisive takes on all aspects of political life: from the build-up to Iraq, to the scandalous sums of tax-payers' money spent on ministerial cars he didn't want to use. His diary is a joy to read: brilliantly-observed, it will entertain and amuse far beyond the political classes.
A View From The Foothills
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`The funniest, most revealing political diaries since Alan Clarke's 15 years ago... Gentle, self-deprecating humour, but no less sharp for that' - Daily Mail Summer Read
-- Daily Mail Summer Read
-- Daily Mail Summer Read
Book Description
Alan Clarke meets Yes Minister in this wry and self-deprecating diary about life in the New Labour Government from 1999 to 2007. Says Mullin, 'It is said that failed politicians make the best diarists. In which case I am in with a chance.'
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First Sentence
A message from Kate Garvey at Number 10. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
A message from Kate Garvey at Number 10. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
116 of 119 people found the following review helpful
By Orangutan
Format:Hardcover
I have to admit that my heart sank a little when this book arrived from Amazon, it's got a rather dull front cover and at 600 pages is something of a brick. Nevertheless, I had read a couple of good reviews in the papers so I thought I would give it a go...and three hours later I was still reading it. It's a truly engrossing account of ministerial life on the lowest rung of the ladder, Mullins upon being promoted to junior minister for transport and environment sets himself just three goals for the duration of his tenure: an end to night flights, greater regulation of leylandi hedges and cancelling his ministerial car. Two years later on leaving his post he reflects that he has failed on the first two counts, and merely reduced the ministerial bill (from £700 to £400 per week) for the third. In the intervening months he catalogues with almost daily despair his lack of any policy influence and how he is slowly ground down by the civil service machine.
There is a real gearchange in the diary after he returns to the back benches after tendering his resignation. It is clear that he finds a new enthusiasm once he escapes from the stifling Whitehall centralised control structures designed to ensure that everyone remains "on message", where every interview and TV appearance has to be approved and prepped to mirror exactly the party line. Now just a humble MP he finds himself with much greater influence through his select committee work.
The second part of the diary therefore progresses much more like a conventional political memoir. We get to hear at first hand government reaction to 911, the political infighting between Gordon and Tony, the divisions over first Afghanistan and then Iraq, the inside reactions to the scandals, the media hysteria, the sackings, the election triumphs.... Read more ›
There is a real gearchange in the diary after he returns to the back benches after tendering his resignation. It is clear that he finds a new enthusiasm once he escapes from the stifling Whitehall centralised control structures designed to ensure that everyone remains "on message", where every interview and TV appearance has to be approved and prepped to mirror exactly the party line. Now just a humble MP he finds himself with much greater influence through his select committee work.
The second part of the diary therefore progresses much more like a conventional political memoir. We get to hear at first hand government reaction to 911, the political infighting between Gordon and Tony, the divisions over first Afghanistan and then Iraq, the inside reactions to the scandals, the media hysteria, the sackings, the election triumphs.... Read more ›
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By SidneyD
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this volume after first reading his later "Decline and Fall" 2005-10 diaries. Mullin is a leftie, and I am not, but he comes across as a decent human being, conscientiously looking after his constituents in underprivileged Sunderland and trying to help unpopular people like destitute African illegal immigrants. He joins Tony Blair's government in a lowly position and is almost laughably ineffective, other than making some changes in the car-pooling rules. He admires Blair for his plausible Houdini-like ability to get out of jams - although he consistently opposes the war in Iraq. Eventually he has a post in African affairs which suits him, but junior ministers do not stay in one place long or even retain office and he lost his. The diaries are wrily amusing and well written and I would rank them with Chips Channon's or Alan Clark's.
50 of 55 people found the following review helpful
By Petrolhead
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
A finely written diary, long in pages but short in reading time, which reveals more than Chris Mullin probably meant to about Tony Blair's New Labour government. Mullin is do-gooder of the old school and a bit of a grumpy old bloke, but very honest with it. His diary is an amazing through-his-eyes view of the end of the beginning, and the beginning of the end, of New Labour.
What's so amazing about it is that it's not an "insider account". Even though Mullin was a senior MP and a junior minister, he was not walking the corridors of power. Indeed, he seems to have been barely more informed than the average newspaper reader. His attempts to read the political tea-leaves and foresee what might happen - when Tony Blair might stand down, for example - are complete guesswork and frequently way off the mark. He seems to have been rather naive and he had absolutely no power. In fact, it reminded me of school, with Mullin and his friends excluded from (and fascinated by) a gang of cool kids they long to join. But good on him for telling it so honestly. This is not an airbrushed version of history.
Mullin might perhaps admit to being an idealist, although he has moments of misanthropy that are nice to see in a left-wing MP. He moans amusingly to his diary about the meaningless speeches he is asked to give and the media-handling, messages and photo-ops demanded by New Labour's spin doctors. A valiant fight, but in vain: he can do nothing about it.
I'm sure he would call himself a man of principle. Yet when it came to the ultimate test - over the final vote on going to war in Iraq, he wavered and very nearly went with Blair. Although Mullin eventually stuck to his guns, he was almost lured to support the case for war and one of his closest allies did cave in. Why?... Read more ›
What's so amazing about it is that it's not an "insider account". Even though Mullin was a senior MP and a junior minister, he was not walking the corridors of power. Indeed, he seems to have been barely more informed than the average newspaper reader. His attempts to read the political tea-leaves and foresee what might happen - when Tony Blair might stand down, for example - are complete guesswork and frequently way off the mark. He seems to have been rather naive and he had absolutely no power. In fact, it reminded me of school, with Mullin and his friends excluded from (and fascinated by) a gang of cool kids they long to join. But good on him for telling it so honestly. This is not an airbrushed version of history.
Mullin might perhaps admit to being an idealist, although he has moments of misanthropy that are nice to see in a left-wing MP. He moans amusingly to his diary about the meaningless speeches he is asked to give and the media-handling, messages and photo-ops demanded by New Labour's spin doctors. A valiant fight, but in vain: he can do nothing about it.
I'm sure he would call himself a man of principle. Yet when it came to the ultimate test - over the final vote on going to war in Iraq, he wavered and very nearly went with Blair. Although Mullin eventually stuck to his guns, he was almost lured to support the case for war and one of his closest allies did cave in. Why?... Read more ›
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The most readable, honest and funny political diaries I have read. An insight into the Blair years in which the latter is gently mocked but comes out of it better than might be expected (and I started with an anti-Blair prejudice). Mullin is good at self deprecation and takes no sides, other than to be very suspicious all along of Brown. But this book is not just about British politics. Other walk on parts are played by people as diverse as the Dalai Lama, the splendid Edna Adan of Somaliland, various people who found themselves falling foul of our immigration and assylum laws and practice, and not least, his family. He comes over as a very humane, decent, observant and believable source.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
loved it
I have read a number of political diaries from the Labour years and rate most of them. However, Chris Mullen has a very different perspective which us fascinating - really enjoyed
Published 12 days ago by VK
5.0 out of 5 stars
An insight into Westminster
A good description of the political infighting and life in Parliament from someone in the lower levels of Government. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dixie
4.0 out of 5 stars
great read, couldn't put it down
A revelling view into the murky dealings and operation of govenment and parliament. Written with refreshing honesty and wit. Read more
Published 4 months ago by john sanders
4.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable read
Many insights into the real world of politics and government. Written in an entertaining and engaging way, it throughly deserves the praise that it receives.
Published 5 months ago by Kernowlot
5.0 out of 5 stars
All MPs should be like him
His Diaries held me from start to finish. If all MPs were as decent as Chris Mullin this Country would be a better place.
Published 6 months ago by Lincoln Imp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
Good book well delivered. Bought as a present and it has got me well in the good books. Easy recommendation.
Published 6 months ago by Toby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great inisght into parliamentary life
If you have any interest in British politics, this is a great read. If you liked the Alan Clark or Campbell diaries you'll also like this.
Published 6 months ago by Mr T B Waters
4.0 out of 5 stars
a good read
Interesting and inciteful. A touch of humour and compassion bring humanity to this book.It also helps understand possibly why our nation has some of the problems it has. Read more
Published 7 months ago by bs
5.0 out of 5 stars
An eye opener
Some intriguing accounts of political life. Chris comes across as a genuine guy but some politicians are horrors. Nothing too shocking here but a sound impression of events.
Published 7 months ago by Rocky
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brave man doing a worthwhile job
Mullin alternates between cynical and movingly earnest. Sometimes he has so much self-doubt that the reader wonders why he is an MP at all. Read more
Published 8 months ago by R. M. Wilson
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